Free health check at festival

NHS staff will be at this year’s Headlander Festival to offer free, on-the-spot blood pressure tests.

The hypertension team will have a stall at the festival, due to be held at Stockport Rugby Club in Bramhall on June 20 and 21, as part of a campaign to persuade everyone over 40 to get their blood pressure checked.

Last year Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group held a week-long drop-in clinic at Merseyway shopping centre, and of the 2,000 people tested 570 has high blood pressure and were given advice to how to lower it.

Twenty five people had severe hypertension and were advised to seek urgent medical attention.

High blood pressure has no symptoms but increases the chances of heart attack and stroke.

Chief clinical officer Ranjit Gill said: “Having your blood pressure taken costs you nothing but we have a huge number of people in Stockport who are putting themselves at unnecessary risk by not having it done.

“The test is simple and quick, and the treatment, if you have high blood pressure, is easy.

“If not for yourself, do it for your family. They’ll be the ones left devastated if you have a heart attack or stroke.”

TURN to page 30 for a preview of this weekend’s Headlander Festival