News from our partners

From time to time we will be publishing news stories on Shropshire Newsroom from our partner organisations.  The following is from Shropshire County Primary Care Trust:

Shrewsbury Town pleased to support Men’s Health Week

Shrewsbury Town have teamed up with Shropshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT) to promote men’s health week from 11 June 2012.

It is hoped the initiative will make men across Shropshire become more aware of health issues, with Professor Rod Thomson, the director of public health at the PCT, stressing the importance of the club’s backing.

Professor Rod Thomson said:

“Shrewsbury Town have a very strong fanbase across the county and their encouragement to their supporters to adopt a healthier lifestyle and learn from the lessons of the football players and the coaching staff who are still keen to stay fit after their playing days is incredibly important.

“The community projects the club have working with older people of retirement age is an excellent example of how we can stay healthy for longer and you have quality of life right to the end of your days.”

Professor Thomson said it was vital everyone strives to lead a healthier lifestyle and he hoped campaigns like Men’s Health Week had a positive impact.

He added:

“We know from various bits of research that we’ve done in Shropshire that there’s a health inequalities gap for men in the county.

“If you are a male from an affluent area then you’ve got a chance of living six and a half years longer than somebody from an area that’s not so affluent.

“Part of that links to people coming forward to take advice about their health but also having the opportunity to take steps to make themselves healthy.

“Key problems locally are things like people being overweight and that links into things like heart disease.

“Men tend not to come forward to see their GPs or come forward for advice, so we’re trying to encourage people that they can make a positive difference.

“They can take a range of healthy steps to impact their health and well-being.

“People that are maybe unsure about seeking advice can also be encouraged to come forward earlier.

“One of the things about cancer, for example, is the sooner it is diagnosed the better it can be treated and the better the outcomes are.

“We run a number of screening programmes to encourage people to be able to check their health status.  GP surgeries up and down the county will be offering health check programmes to men and women and this will be a great opportunity for people to take stock of how healthy they are and take steps.”

Shrewsbury Town community development manager Martin James said the club were pleased to be able to promote the campaign.

Martin James added:

“The issue of men’s health is very important to our supporters as well as our staff and players.

“Any opportunity to encourage men to talk about health issues must be positive, and as a club we look forward to supporting future men’s health initiatives.”