Doctor gives church medical checks 'to show love'

Dr Petse Alexovsky has been running bi-monthly consultations at Lydney Christian Fellowship church since April this year

A church in the Forest of Dean is offering consultations with a doctor twice a month to help take the pressure off local GP surgeries.

Dr Petse Alexovsky is a specialist cardiology consultant at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and runs bi-monthly sessions at Lydney Christian Fellowship church.

While he cannot prescribe any treatments in these meetings, Dr Alexovsky does offer support.

He said: "As a Christian I have always been driven to show love. This is one of the things I can provide and do well."

Dr Alexovsky and his wife started attending Lydney Christian Fellowship church in July last year and approached Pastor Ian Sampson with the idea.

The pastor told BBC Radio Gloucestershire the sessions, which started in April, were already making a difference.

"To have that conversation to put people's minds at ease has been massively beneficial to those that have attended," he said.

'I'm with them'

The doctor said the aim of the sessions was to ensure people had a space to talk through any health concerns they may have.

"I do a blood pressure measurement, pulse oximetry," he said. "I have a portable ECG and all of that is recorded down.

"Then I do a general examination if the patient is happy, listening to the chest, heart and if they would like express any ongoing issues I go through the medication to see if they are on any.

Dr Alexovsky then prepares a summary report with the patient to share with their GP.

He said: "We're not going to replace the GP, that's not the point. This is just a little advice to the GP and then it's up to them to make the changes.

"Within primary care, I really feel compassion for them regarding the limit. I'm with them."