Travelling health pod pops up in Birchwood

A brand new pop-up health pod is set to make its way around the towns and villages of Lincolnshire and beyond, dispensing invaluable healthy living advice.

It will be making its first stop at Birchwood Leisure Centre on Monday 9^th November between 11am and 4pm.

The inflatable pod is around three metres high and visitors can step inside for free checks on blood pressure and diabetes with pharmacists, get clued up on living well with a touch screen health centre or hop on the body mass analyser for a fully personalised readout.

They’ll also be able to sip on nutritious smoothies and try their hand at a fun game which tests players’ reaction times.

Head of Pharmacy Alastair Farquhar said: “The health pod will be staffed by our pharmacists who are trained to answer all sorts of questions, and it’s designed to encourage customers to make the most of their local pharmacy.

“We offer so many health checks and services in pharmacies that people aren’t aware of, and we think this is a great way to get the message out there.”

Patients can avoid long waits at the doctor’s surgery by visiting a pharmacy, and there’s no appointment necessary for advice about minor ailments like coughs, colds and skin conditions. Millions of people visit their GP each year suffering from a blocked nose – a problem which could be treated by a community pharmacist.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s Community Engagement Manager Sam Turner said: “Our fantastic pop-up health pod is all part of our commitment to the local community. We share our profits with members and their communities
through dividend and our Community Champions scheme - the health pod is just one more way for us to help.

“We think people will appreciate the opportunity to pop in and get a free health check wherever our health pod pops up – whether that’s a shopping precinct, a town centre or their local park.”

The health pod will launch during Ask Your Pharmacist week (9^th-15^th November), a national initiative encouraging people to make local pharmacies their first port of call for minor ailments.