West Meads clinic holds first health fair open day

Three GPs at West Meads Surgery will be carrying out blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar testing and weight measuring during an open day on Saturday.

The event is the first of its kind for the practice's 7,000 patients since it opened in The Precinct in September 2000.

The medical assessments will form part of a health fair between 9am and noon. An osteopath and a physiotherapist will also be present to spot any muscular problems. The fair will signal the launch of the Friends of West Meads Surgery group as well.

Founder Sandra Stevenson said: "We want to bring more community spirit to the area and to raise funds for the practice for the benefit of residents."

The extra equipment is intended to enable more treatments to be performed at the surgery to save patients having to go to hospital.

A plant sale, a foreign currency amnesty and book collectors' stall at the fair will help to get the Friends' fundraising started.