North East ‘My MOT Day’!
The North East held their own ‘My M.O.T Day’, a free event to encourage people with a learning disability to better understand their own health needs and make meaningful changes.
With stalls from the NHS, Healthwatch, Cleveland Police, the North East Ambulance Service and more, there were so many opportunities for visitors to learn more about their health and safety and discover resources to support them. There were free blood pressure checks with referrals if needed, cancer screening advice, information about medication reviews with pharmacists and the STOMP team, oral health promotion by Tees Community Dental Service, and so much more. You could even have a look around the ambulance!
Everyone was given a ‘My MOT Journal’, with information from each stall and activities to create a health action plan to take home. Lucy Dearlove, Senior Development Officer and event organiser, said: “The journal is theirs to keep and refer back to whenever they need, keeping them well-informed to start making meaningful changes to their health and wellbeing.”
Everyone had so much fun taking part in the chair exercises from Senses Wellbeing Centre, singing along to hits such as ‘Sweet Caroline’ and ‘Football’s Coming Home’ – nothing gets people together like a good chant! For hungry visitors there was a jacket potato van on-site, as well as free tea and coffee, and fruit provided by Tesco Community Champions. The Service User Forum were running their own tombola stall with plenty of prizes donated by the people we support and staff.
“It’s absolutely quite useful. There was a lot for us to pick up and take away with us, it was a great experience and I’d like to see more of it,” said Sven, who we support in the North East.
The STOMP team support with advice about overmedication. “We support GPs and pharmacists to carry out structured medication reviews, with reasonable adjustments and easy reads.”
When talking about the event, Ann-Marie, a person we support in Stockton, said “I enjoyed the day because it helped me learn new skills and how the NHS Ambulance people help save lives if someone has a heart attack. I would like to be one so I can help people.”
Becky, a Dental Health Educator from Community Dental Services was helping to raise awareness about oral health. “Practices will refer people with learning disabilities to our services, as we have more specialised care for people who need bariatric chairs, general anaesthetic or have anxiety and need more adjustments.”
The NHS Health Facilitation Team aim to tackle health inequalities through collaborative working. They support with health screening, health passports, action plans and reasonable adjustments.
The ELM Alliance and GP Federation carried out basic health checks, including blood pressure, height BMI and gave advice if needed.
The Healthy Communities team from Redcar Cleveland Borough Council were promoting their new ‘Make Every Contact Count’ website, a signposting tool for people needing support. The website has information surrounding healthy eating, finances, mental health, alcohol and more, with information conversation starters, and local services for support.
Healthwatch Middlesborough said “We’re an independent champion for everyone in the South Tees area for anything to do with Health and Social Care.” Their ‘Just Ask’ service supports people to identify the health, care and wellbeing support for their needs.
The Viswa Group donated £500 so all could enjoy an affordable healthy lunch at £2 per person as well as free tea, coffee and water.
This month is ‘My M.O.T Month’, helping you keep up to date with your health checks. Check out our 2024 Journal for a list of tests you can do to perform your very own M.O.T!