Men get hard word to see GP

Over half of the men who fronted up to a Waikato health event have been told to go and see their doctors.

The Men’s Health Event in Cambridge was a chance for men to get a check up and a report card of the state of their health.

One of the organisers, registered nurse Helen Vaughan, was unable to confirm if the GP referrals dished out at the event were of a serious nature.

But she said those who were referred to their doctors were given the advice after undergoing various screenings at the March 16 event.

Vaughan and Cambridge Baptist Church pastoral care ministry leader Delia Edmeades organised the Men’s Health Event.

They had been promoted after reviewing statistics which showed every three hours, one New Zealand man died of a preventable illness.

‘‘The attitude of invincibility is wrong and we want men to be more forthcoming in seeking medical advice,’’ said Vaughan.

Three general practitioners at the event, Peter Tribe, Ann Pearson and Krishna Chattergee, were kept busy speaking to people, offering advice.

‘‘Men continue to have poorer health outcomes than women,’’ Tribe said.

‘‘In New Zealand life expectancy at birth was 83 years for females and 79 years for males, based on death rates between 2012 and 2014.

‘‘This men’s health event has contributed to improving outcomes and decreasing this gap.’’

Attendees were able to pick up a Warrant of Fitness card and visit the 18 other health and social organisations on hand.

The Warrant of Fitness checks included blood pressure, mental health assessments, glucose, cholesterol, blood and mole screening.

This resulted in over 50 per cent of those who were screened, triggering a need for referral to a GP.

‘‘We were pleased to see a good cross section of the local male population, with a good proportion being younger men.

‘‘A lot of the older men had their wives there to support them too.’’

Most visitors took the opportunity to walk through the colossal inflatable colon, provided by the Cancer Society, to promote an awareness of bowel cancer.

‘‘It was heartening to see so many men keen at the start with a group waiting outside prior to opening at 10am,’’ said Edmeades.