The NHS Greater Manchester heart bus recently took to Bury’s Mill Gate Shopping Centre, offering free heart tests to members of the public aged 40 and over.
An NCA team of clinicians and allied health professionals partnered with other Greater Manchester sectors, to test around 240 visitors on the day.
A range of symptoms and conditions were discovered needing a GP visit for further tests or treatment. These include around 50 people with hypertension, seven with possible signs of heart failure and one with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rate).
Feedback from those who visited the heart bus was positive with many reassured by test results, while others were grateful to be signposted by clinical staff on next steps for further investigation or treatment.
Nurse consultant in cardiology at Fairfield General Hospital Toni Weldon said: “This was an important day for our Bury population that may well have an enormous impact for those tested – either providing much-needed peace of mind to people who’d been worried about symptoms that they don’t need to or advising prompt GP visits to those with symptoms of concern that early treatment can help.”
Alongside NCA colleagues and clinicians, those bringing the heart bus to Bury include:
- Greater Manchester and Eastern Cheshire Strategic Cardiac Clinical Network
- Pumping Marvellous Foundation (heart failure charity)
- Heart Valve Voice (heart valve charity)
- Bury Live Well
- Bury Integrated Care Board
- LumiraDx and Medtronic who supply medical devices for testing
The Bury heart bus visit took place to coincide with October’s Heart Awareness Day.