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Earlier this month, Berkshire Healthcare’s Health Bus visited Morrisons in Reading, offering free health checks and wellbeing conversations to members of the public. In partnership with Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, the initiative aimed to improve access to advice, identify potential health concerns early, and support people to take positive steps for their health.

A wide range of services were available, including the Respiratory Service, Heart Function Service, Dietetics, Talking Therapies, the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Team, and The Royal Berkshire Hospital’s Meet PEET (Patient Experience and Engagement Team).

Staff provided assessments such as blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and lung function, alongside lifestyle advice, signposting, and information about local services. The events offered an opportunity for people who may not routinely access healthcare to engage informally with clinicians, ask questions, and receive personalised guidance in a supportive, community setting.

Over the two days, the teams spoke to numerous members of the public, conducting 19 lung function tests, 22 blood pressure checks, nine heart rate checks, an ECG, and offering smoking cessation advice, among other health checks. Seven participants were found to have high blood pressure, and ten were signposted to their GP or local services, demonstrating how effective bringing health checks directly into the community can be in identifying potential issues early and connecting people with the care and support they need.

By taking healthcare out of traditional health care settings and into the community, the Health Bus is helping to improve access to local support and ensure vital services reach those who need them most.