Patients, staff, and visitors at King George Hospital were able to walk in and receive free health checks thanks to a visit from the Healthy Redbridge Bus.

The mobile clinic, which parked outside the hospital main entrance, offered drop-in checks for blood pressure, blood glucose, height and weight without the need to book in advance.

The service, which is run in partnership with Redbridge Council, aims to catch early signs of common health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Clinician Sheyrl, who was carrying out tests on board the bus, said the service attracted a wide mix of both staff members and people from the local community.

Sheyrl said:

Many people don’t realise they might have high blood pressure or raised blood sugar until they’re tested. This gives them a chance to take action early so it’s a really valuable service.

Muhammad Khan, who works in pathology at King George Hospital, said his checks took only a few minutes.

He said:

It’s a simple way to keep an eye on your health. If something isn’t right, you can catch it early and deal with it straight away.

The Healthy Redbridge Bus will return to King George Hospital on Tuesday 15 July, from 10.00 to 14.00 outside the main entrance. The checks are free, open to everyone and no booking is required.