Health Bus brings mobile clinic to estate (From Oxford Mail)

Health Bus brings mobile clinic to estate

12:50pm Thursday 16th February 2012 in News By Laura Jones

ROSE Hill families will finally get access to health care on the Oxford estate with the arrival of a monthly health bus at The Oval.

Residents have been asking for more health services for years.

They will be able to chat with NHS nurses about their health worries, avoiding a journey to Donnington Health Centre, in Henley Avenue.

Patients will be able to undergo a 15-minute “health MoT” in a private consultation with an NHS nurse, who will carry out blood pressure and diabetes tests, give weight management advice and advise people on how to get help to quit smoking.

Glucose and cholesterol tests will also be on offer, as well as general advice on health screening.

Rose Hill community worker Fran Gardner said: “Following years of frustration and repeated requests to GPs’ surgeries and the primary care trust, residents of Rose Hill are about to see the beginnings of health care services.

“The Health Bus will come to Rose Hill every month – a wider range of services will be made available and more frequently, if residents show an interest and support the project.

“This is a real opportunity for residents to show that there’s a need here for substantial health care services.”

The initiative is being financed by Oxford Citizens Housing Association’s successful bid to the Big Lottery Fund.

It won the money by drawing attention to the lack of health care on the estate and the three-mile round trip by bus that faces the elderly, disabled and low-income families to visit Donnington Health Centre.

Dr Peter von Eichstorff, of the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “This is a great initiative. The Health Bus is a good way to bring services close to where people live.

“Rose Hill is an area where we know health needs are higher than other parts of Oxford, and residents could benefit from taking advantage of the health services and advice that will be made available.”

The Health Bus will pull up for its first stop at The Oval on Friday next week.

Residents will be able to speak to a nurse there between 10am and 3pm.

Sainsbury’s supermarket at Heyford Hill is donating fruit goodie bags for children and free face painting will be on offer from 3pm.