WINTER is coming and to help keep people healthy and well, Bolton GP Federation is bringing free health services out into Bolton communities from this week – starting Friday, 4 October, 10am to 2pm at BRASS, The Park Lodge, Green Lane, BL3 2HP.
Health checks, cancer screening guidance, health and wellbeing advice, Covid vaccines and MMR vaccines (including gelatine free*) will be offered throughout the winter months from a variety of community locations including community centres and car parks across the town.
Following its successful trip around Bolton last winter, the Mobile Health Hive will also be making a return to Bolton streets – people can find out where it’s heading by visiting: Community Health – Bolton GP federation. Clinics will also be hosted by some of Bolton’s community and voluntary groups, who will be helping the fed team to offer a warm welcome to anyone wanting advice or to access a service.
Thanks to a partnership with Bolton Council’s Public Health Team, the federation is offering additional health checks and cancer screening advice and guidance alongside the MMR vaccine to anyone who is eligible, especially to people from the Central and Rumworth areas of the town, where uptake is particularly low.
Federation Chair, Dr Kamran Khan, said: “The number of people choosing to have the MMR vaccine has been on the decline, even though we know the spread of measles has been on the rise. Offering the vaccine in the Health Hive and out in communities, along with offering time to sit and talk to alleviate nerves and bust myths, empowers people who may not have yet decided to have the vaccine – or may not even know that they should have one – to make an informed decision.
“Following the success of our Bolton Health Hive in the Market Place, we have established a way of taking some of our services out into communities to help remove barriers. Mobilising these services helps practices at a time when some struggle to keep up with demand, especially over the winter months, and helps people who may struggle to get an appointment. All our community clinics are designed with the community and delivered in and with the community.”
The Bolton Health Hive, open Monday to Friday in the Market Place, will continue to offer services and make it easier for people to access what they need. This includes health checks, cancer screening, Covid and MMR vaccines. People are advised to check the website before they visit Community Health – Bolton GP federation, which is updated daily.
Facebook: @BoltonGPFederation
Twitter: @Boltongpfed
