Men's Movember staff health event hailed success

NHS workers volunteered at the trust's first day focused on the health of male staff

An NHS trust event to encourage male staff to take more care of their health was well-received, said organisers.

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust said 100 men working at Peterborough City Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Hospital, and Stamford and Rutland Hospital attended the event in Sawtry.

Staff and male family members were able to take up free health checks by trust professionals on issues including cholesterol and blood sugar levels, healthy eating, smoking, alcohol reduction, mental health, male breast cancer and bowel screening.

Men's Staff Network chair, Chris Howard, said: "We were really keen to put on an event just for our male staff, and 'Movember' seemed like the perfect time."

Movember is a campaign held in November to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

Consultant urological surgeon Jyoti Shah and her team delivered free prostate health checks at the event.

She said: "A lot of men like to bury their head in the sand when it comes to their health. They are often too busy to go to their doctor or to access the relevant services.

"Staging community events like this encourages men to come along and get checked, and be informed in a much more relaxed environment," she said.

"Because prostate cancer often doesn't have any symptoms, they won't appreciate the need to go and get checked."

The men's health day was sponsored by local businesses and supported by volunteers, and the trust said it hoped to run further events.

Volunteers gave out "goodie bags" to attendees at the men's health event