A Liscard community health group has won a prestigious national prize for its impact on society, at the British Institute of Facilities Management awards in London.
Well on Wirral is an organisation run by volunteer nurses in a vacant shop space in the Cherry Tree Centre, Liscard.
The group addresses a range of adult-based health issues, such as cholesterol tests, weight management, blood pressure advice, chair-based exercises and even adult colouring.
The initiative launched in February and has already been given the Highly Commended award for its impact on local life. Accepting the accolade at the Grosvenor hotel in London, the group was told that its impact on the local life of residents was “unprecedented in the industry”.
John White, manager of the Cherry Tree Centre, told JMU Journalism: “This all came about because the Clinical Commissioning Group and the Wirral NHS Trust identified that areas in places such as Leasowe, Bidston, Seacombe, Poulton, Birkenhead and Rock Ferry, are in the 3% most deprived places in the UK for health. That could be alcohol abuse, drug abuse, obesity, heart disease.”
With figures showing that the life expectancy of someone living in Seacombe is 14 years less than someone living eight miles down the road in West Kirby, the purpose was to bring the health requirements to the point of need.
Mr White told JMU Journalism: “I’ve spoken to mid-wives, who do breast advice services and they say one thing that’s not going to happen is a young mum with a baby in a pushchair and a toddler is not going to get on a bus and travel 40 minutes to Arrowe Park to discuss breast feeding. It just won’t happen and then these people are being robbed of that service.”
Well on Wirral, runs every Tuesday and the first Saturday of every month in the Cherry Tree Centre.
YouTube: British Institute of Facilities Management