Pharmacists check health of Welsh Assembly members and staff
Vicky Gimson giving deputy health minister John Griffiths a health
check |
As part of National Healthy Living Week, pharmacists representing the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Welsh Executive were present in the National Assembly “milling area” on 17 May to conduct health checks on Assembly Members and staff. The checks available included weight measurement, body mass index monitoring and blood pressure testing.
Among the community pharmacists who took part was Vicky Gimson, who said: “The
results were a real eye-opener for some of the people we tested. The
event was a great opportunity to educate AMs on important aspects of
their health while at the same time reinforcing the message that community
pharmacies provide local centres of advice and information on healthy
living.”
The chairman of the Welsh Executive, Peter Jones, said: “This event
is part of an ongoing series of opportunities for the Society to promote
the role pharmacy plays in healthy living and we welcome the opportunity
to increase awareness of pharmacists’ expertise and potential.”
Deputy health minister John Griffiths said: “Having the pharmacists
on hand to carry out health checks on Assembly Members and staff was
a great boost to National Healthy Living Week. All too often people think
that high blood pressure is something that affects other people, not
them.
“I hope that everyone who visited the pharmacy stand told their
friends and families of the importance of getting little things like
blood pressure
and BMI checked. I would encourage everyone to visit their local pharmacy
to see what help and advice they can get to improve their own lifestyles.”
National Healthy Living Week, which was established in 2003, is arranged
by the Welsh Assembly’s All Party Group for Healthy Living, which
is made up of AMs and related organisations. Its mission is to help people
to have a more active, healthy and fulfilled lifestyle.
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal