Date published: 29 March 2024
The Primary Care Services North Cumbria team visited Appleby Leisure Centre on 27 March 2024 as part of a project piloting health checks 'on location'.
Working with Appleby Medical Practice, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, the Better Health Team at the centre and supported by the Northern Cancer Alliance and Cancer Champion.
Sam Gargett, Project Manager for Primary Care Services North Cumbria said: "We worked in collaboration with Appleby Medical Practice and the Better Health Team at Appleby Leisure Centre. We offered health checks for anyone who was in the health centre and were also using the PocDoc CVD tests as well for cardiac tests.
"It's been a really collaborative event with really positive feedback from the people that visited. A big thank you to all involved in bringing this together."
Ian Thompson, Better Health Assistant Manager said: "It's getting people active, so people with medical conditions, disabilities, for example we've got 'escape pain' classes for people with arthritis. It's working with referrals from professionals and then depending on what the person needs, whether that's walking or swimming, it's about then being proactive rather than reactive.
Appleby Leisure Centre Customer Julia Poole explained her health improvement journey stating and provided people with the following advice: "It's been a wonderful journey that I've been on... Push yourself to get out of the house because it will be hard to begin with when you do it, but gradually it'll get easier and your health will improve, your overall ability to do things, everything improves.
"I was in so much pain before, with Rheumatoid Arthritis and it all went away, because I was exercising so much, plus I was eating a healthy diet. Coming in here (the Leisure Centre) it's like a second family in here and they're just amazing, so you've got a support system as well."
We would encourage everyone to watch our short overview film on this page which features more of Julia's very inspirational patient story.
The health checks were also supported by our Primary Care Network Cancer Engagement Lead for North Cumbria and the Northern Cancer Alliance, with lots of information and advice on hand for visitors at the centre.
Susan Hogg, North Cumbria Cancer Champion - Project Co-ordinator supported the event and said: "It's a good opportunity to do a bit of networking and working collaboratively with other organisations, raising awareness of cancers. It is good to actually get out there in the public, just have a chat with people and see if we can help anyone in any way."
