Health promotional fair at Saffron Walden Community Hospital

PROCEEDS from a health fair at Saffron Walden Communuity Hospital raised more than �340.

The money will be spent on equipment for the outpatients department and on future health promotion events.

Staff nurse Melanie Grout of the hospital on Radwinter Road said the opportunity to get free blood pressure checks proved popular.

“We saw 98 people in total, seven may need treatment or monitoring by their GP and 24 were advised to have their blood pressure checked again within two weeks,” she said. “Having regular checks is the only way to know what your blood pressure is, which only takes five minutes and could save your life.”

Around 30 stall holders offered a range of advice including St John Ambulance, Age Concern, Telecare, Crossroads Care, crime prevention, fire safety, dental advice, support for sight, dermatology nurse specialist, midwives and representatives from voluntary organisations.

Melanie added: “We would like to thank those local businesses for donating raffle prizes, the people who came along as well as our administration colleagues for all of their help and support.”