Mobile health hive clinic to offer advice and checks in Bolton

The specially commissioned mobile health clinic, set up in a van, will be pulling up in areas around Bolton after Bolton GP Federation received fund from the Greater Manchester NHS Trust.

The van will park up in street or car parks to provide services normally delivered by GPs.

The Mobile Health Hive is part of Bolton Health Hive - a walk-in-centre in Market Place Shopping Centre.

The walk-in-centre provides certain health service.

It will be touring parts of the town with the federation team to offer health services and advice throughout December and January - a time when, health bosses say,  people are at their most vulnerable and health services are feeling the pressures of winter.

It hit the road on Thursday, 14 December, at Lidl, Derby Street  and people are invited to drop by the van - with no appointment needed-  for a range of services they would normally access via their GP practice, including health checks, blood pressure checks, lifestyle advice including stopping smoking, cancer screening advice, Covid and flu vaccines.

The van offers space for people to sit down and talk to the "friendly team" and get tips on how they can keep on top of their health.

A spokesman said: "If you are unwell, please access services in your usual way.

"The van is open to anyone living, working and visiting Bolton.

Priority will be given to vulnerable people, such as pregnant women and adults from African and Caribbean communities where uptake in important health checks and vaccines are traditionally low."

The van will visit Deane, Daubhill, Rumworth, Halliwell, Great Lever, Breightmet and other areas in and around Bolton town centre

Mobile Health Hive hits the roads (Image: Bolton GP Federation)

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These are the locations which have been confirmed so far:

• Friday, December 15 – 10am to 4pm - Lidl car park on Derby Street, BL3 6JR
• Saturday December 16 – 10am to 4pm - Queens Park near the café, BL1 4BY
• Tuesday, December 19 - 10am to 12pm - Lidl car park, Derby Street, BL3 6JR
• Tuesday, December 19 - 1pm to 4pm - High Street Library, High Street, BL3 6ZS
• Wednesday, December 20 - 10am to 4pm - Lidl car park, Derby Street, BL3 6JR
• Thursday, December 21 - 10.30am to 1.30pm - BRASS

Federation Chair, Dr Kamran Khan, said: “General practice is working at full capacity. The demand for health services increases day by day, and this can lead to difficulty for people accessing services.

“The Mobile Health Hive is here to help with this.

“The Mobile Health Hive has been made possible by GP practices, Bolton Council, local businesses, Bolton CVS and other voluntary and community groups all working together on behalf of the people of Bolton.

“Our federation team is made up of health care professionals who have the time to sit and talk to people; to answer questions and alleviate fears, and to be easily accessible, within the community and without the need for an appointment.

“Please pop into the Mobile Health Hive and let others know in your neighbourhood.”

The latest timetable can be accessed by visiting www.boltongpfed.co.uk/healthhive

 Dr Kamran Khan, Chair of Bolton GP Federation: "Bolton Health Hive, located in the Market Place shopping centre, is a facility created by Bolton GP Federation to improve access to general practice services for Bolton people – and we absolutely welcome anyone to pop in to receive a warm welcome and one of our services."

He stated that the walk-in-centre only provides certain services.

He said: "I would like to re-iterate that the Bolton Health Hive is a facility for all Bolton residents to access some of the services they would usually access at their GP practice, with no appointment required. This includes Covid and flu vaccines (subject to vaccine supply and eligibility), health checks, smear tests, and health and wellbeing advice.

"A full timetable of what is available at the clinic on each day, along with the locations for the Mobile Health Hive is available here: https://www.boltongpfed.co.uk/healthhive/. If anyone is unsure and wants to double check before travelling, they can call the Health Hive on 01204 916241."

If people are ill or injured, they should access services in their usual way – via their GP, Pharmacy or A&E if appropriate.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.