Tuesday 14th November at Arrow Valley Country Park, the Redditch District Collaborative was joined by local organisations, Rubicon Leisure, and the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Talking Therapies team to raise awareness about diabetes and provide information on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Despite the weather threatening to rain, it was a positive sight to see over 20 people travel to the park and embark on the famous 2.5-mile walk along the Arrow Valley Park lake. An assortment of healthy snacks were also provided, including a beetroot cake at the Boathouse Café.
Throughout the morning and into the afternoon, curious members of the public took to the stalls to gather leaflet information and talk with our health professionals to seek advice and signpost. Estelle Ellis, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Long Term Health Conditions Project Manager for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Talking Therapies, reflected on how she and the team became involved in the Arrow Valley Park event.
“NHS Talking Therapies has been working closely with the Community Diabetes Team to provide cognitive behavioural treatments to help support people living well with diabetes. We have also recently linked up with social Prescribers and Lifestyle Advisers and our other colleagues from Redditch Community Health & Wellbeing Services. We hope that working more closely together will provide a better experience for people accessing our services.” Said Estelle.
Estelle reflected on the impact of the event. “The event was well attended, and attendees spent time talking to people from different services. There were lots of different leaflets to take away, healthier versions of food to try, options to take up a free gym day pass, and a free NHS health check. There was lots of upbeat chatter on the guided walk, and we noticed people seemed to really enjoy this relaxed activity."
A notable highlight from the event among visitors was the free check provided by an NHS health and wellbeing van. Visitors were able to enter the van and receive a health check for their blood pressure and cholesterol or a brief review of their ongoing health issues. Visitors who knew their NHS number could provide the details to the team, to which they forwarded your results to your local GP.
Hayley Gwilliam, Physical Activity Development Officer for Bromsgrove District & Redditch Borough Councils shared her highlights from the event “I have been really pleased with the positive feedback about the World Diabetes Day event. The’ health bus’ attending and giving members of the public the chance to be tested for key indicators of diabetes was very well received, along with the information about the support and activities available for people who are living with or at risk of living with diabetes.
It is always valuable to be able to promote and signpost people to the wide range of free and low-cost activities available within the Borough that can improve health and well-being in general.”
Estelle reflected on what she hopes the locals will take away from the event. “We hope that people will take away that there is lots of different support, information, and activities for people that are living with diabetes, whether this be pre-diabetes, diabetes recently in remission, Type 1 or Type 2. In particular, we hope that people will attend and share information about our NHS Talking Therapies Living Well with Diabetes courses and other treatments. My colleague, Kirsty, and I had some good conversations with people about our service. We hope that we might see them at one of our courses in the future.”
Check out the basic symptoms for signs of diabetes.
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