Newcastle's GPs have launched a new health bus which will be delivering vital checks in the community and act as "almost a pop-up GP practice".

The new initiative sees the Newcastle GP Services (NGPS) partner with Newcastle University pharmacy department to set up a community outreach bus which will see services like blood pressure and cholesterol checks offered away from traditional medical settings. It's hoped this will reduce health inequality by making it easier for people to access advice and support closer to home.

Health and lifestyle advice about conditions such as diabetes along with help and signposting to support to stop smoking will also be part of what is available. The bus launched this week, but prior to this, over the last six weeks around 300 people have benefitted from outreach sessions held at locations including Newcastle City Library, the Beacon in Westgate Road, the Walker Activity Dome, and Elswick's Bangladeshi Community Centre.

Joanna Vintis nurse lead for NGPS, told ChronicleLive: "We are going to places that historically haven't engaged in the same way with primary care. So we're out here today being a representative for all of the GP services here in Newcastle - and helping people access really good and exciting health advice and wellbeing.

"We're here just to talk to patients, give them general health and lifestyle advice. So we can check things like your height and your weight which you might not know. but also do things like check your cholesterol levels."

Joanna Vintis, Lead Nurse NGPS, Dr Hamde Nazar, Newcastle University School of Pharmacy and Astrid Robertson, Student Nurse at Northumbria University at the launch of the new Newcastle Community Health Bus
Joanna Vintis, Lead Nurse NGPS, Dr Hamde Nazar, Newcastle University School of Pharmacy and Astrid Robertson, Student Nurse at Northumbria University at the launch of the new Newcastle Community Health Bus

Joanna said the bus - nicknamed Monty by Fenham schoolgirl Willow, 8 - would be "almost a pop-up GP practice" and the idea was to do whatever possible to support the Newcastle public with their health needs.

Dr Hamde Nazar from the Newcastle University School of Pharmacy added: "The key thing is about getting undergraduate students out in the community providing services for 3 reasons .Addressing health inequalities where we can; to also provide preventative services for the ageing population; and to provide undergraduate training in clinical environments to get the workforce best prepared for the challenges they will face."

Dr Nazar said there had been "huge engagement" so far, and more than 300 people had visited outreach clinics in the last six weeks.

Emily Maughan, head of clinical services at NGPS added: "We’re really excited to get out and about and on the road in our new purpose-built health bus. We know how important it is making sure that everyone who lives in Newcastle is given access to the health services that they need, and this is an important step in adapting our health and care delivery to reach those that need it most, getting out into the community.

Dr Hamde Nazar, Newcastle University School of Pharmacy
Dr Hamde Nazar, Newcastle University School of Pharmacy

We’re incredibly pleased to be working with Newcastle University School of Pharmacy on our Community Health Services, with the help of Newcastle City Council, Northumbria University and lots of other charities and groups in the city. It’s a great example of how organisations are working together to keep the people of Newcastle healthy and well. "

Services available include cholesterol checks, BMI and blood pressure checks, advice reducing alcohol and smoking and managing diabetes. There's also the opportunity to be referred to community pharmacies, to get a walking stick ferrule replacement or simply to speak to qualified GP nurses.

The bus will be visiting locations including Morrisons in Byker, Eldon Square, Newcastle Bangladeshi Community Centre, Asda in Benwell, and West End Mosque.