Public Health England has hired us to host pop-up testing stations in Wakefield for two weeks in March, offering free blood pressure checks to local people aged 40 and over.
The Blood Pressure Drop-In campaign, which launched on 9th March 2014, aims to help raise awareness of the importance or regular blood pressure checks for the over 40s. One in four adults has high blood pressure, and one in nine has no idea that anything is wrong. Yet as many as 50% of strokes and 20% of heart attacks are caused by high blood pressure.
The Because-designed roadshow will visit a variety of locations including supermarkets, rugby grounds and community centres. Designed to reach men and women aged 40+ who might not normally book a doctor’s appointment, the clinics have a ‘no appointment, no problem’ philosophy. The modular kit of brightly-branded inflatable pods act as ‘mobile testing points’, with both consultation areas and waiting areas to allow visitors privacy. Two identical rigs will tour the city simultaneously.
At each location, two Brand Ambassadors from Because will be on hand to get people talking about blood pressure and how it can be affected by lifestyle, whilst local health professionals will be on hand inside the pods to take blood pressure readings then and there. If a blood pressure reading is high, the patient will get a referral letter to take to their GP.
Sharon Richey, CEO of Because comments:
“We’ve been working extensively with Public Health England on these kind of face to face awareness campaigns over the last few years, with great success. Many people avoid going to the doctor unless they’re really ill. These pop-up experiences are designed to make it easier for them to have quick chats and check ups with trained professionals, in convenient, everyday locations.”
Other face to face Public Health England campaigns that Because has worked on recently include awareness roadshows for bowel cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and oesophageal cancer.
The drop-in clinic will be at the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats game on Sunday 23rd March 2014.