Shrewsbury blood pressure tests available

The Rotary Club of Shrewsbury, in association with the Stroke Association and the town's other rotary clubs, will help people in Shrewsbury get their blood pressure tested by hosting a drop-in centre in the Darwin Shopping Centre on Saturday, May 27.

The event is also aimed at raising awareness of the link between high blood pressure and strokes – high blood pressure has been found to cause more than half of all strokes.

As well as having a blood pressure test, those attending will also be able to get advice on steps to keep it under control.

Rotary Club of Shrewsbury's organiser of the event, Rotarian Mike Law said: "No appointment is necessary to come into our temporary clinic within a vacant shop in the Darwin Shopping Centre where volunteer local nurses will carry out the simple test, explain the results and suggest any follow action if appropriate.

"At a similar event last year more than a hundred people visited us and about a third of those were advised to follow up with a doctor's visit and some people, who were diagnosed with severe hypertension (high blood pressure), were recommended to seek urgent further medical advice."

Rotary Club spokesman Alan Wilding said; "We are delighted that the Mayor of Shrewsbury Councillor Jane Mackenzie has agreed to launch our health awareness day at 10am on Saturday, May 27, and subsequently members of our club and from the other two town clubs, will be on hand throughout the morning and afternoon, until 4pm, to explain our special pop-in facility to shoppers within the Darwin Centre. We will also be able to offer blood sugar checks to those who request them."