Health and care providers are gearing up to offer health checks on the WOW bus this week. The Wellness on Wheels (WOW) bus has been traveling across Norfolk and Waveney offering COVID-19 vaccinations as well as screening, advice, and support.

This Wednesday, the bus is making a stop at Social Supermarket in Norwich, offering health checks for those who might need a little extra help with their health and care.

The NHS Health Check is a health check-up for adults in England aged 40 to 74. It’s designed to spot early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or dementia. As we get older, we have a higher risk of developing one of these conditions. An NHS Health Check helps find ways to lower this risk.

Tracy Williams, Clinical Lead for Health Inequalities for NHS Norfolk & Waveney said:

“We are delighted the WOW bus will continue with its journey across Norfolk and Waveney, delivering a range of health interventions to some of our most underserved communities including inclusion health groups, who tell us they often find health care services in our traditional settings are challenging to access.

“We are really pleased to now offer health checks to people who may find it challenging to access their NHS health check in more traditional settings and will find the offer on the wow bus more accessible as its delivered in the heart of local communities. If you are aged between 40-75 and haven’t had a one and identify as someone from our health inclusion community and struggle to access a health check any other way, I encourage you to come forward.  

Kelsey Lund, Community and Café Manager for The Feed said:

“It’s great for people to be able to get basic healthcare at the same time as getting affordable food from our Social Supermarket. This gives people a really accessible way to manage their health.”

The WOW bus is supported by partner organisations across the ICS, including NHS Norfolk and Waveney, Norfolk County Council, the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector and others.

The bus facilitates and has a particular focus to support people from under-served communities with a focus on:

 • People experiencing homelessness

• Sex workers

• Forced migrants (those with no recourse to public funds)

• Gypsy, Roma, Travellers and Boaters

• Communities living in areas of deprivation – also known a core20 where communities are known to find access to health and care challenging.

• Vulnerable migrants and people with no recourse to public funds

If you see the WOW bus, make sure you hop onboard! For more information visit improvinglivesnw.org.uk/hop-on-the-wow-bus/

ENDS

• The bus will be parked up at Social Supermarket 65 Hall Road, Norwich, NR1 3HL, 10am until 3pm.
• The health checks are specifically for adults aged 40-75 who do not access health and care services in the traditional ways.
• To find out more about The Feed’s Social Supermarket visit: thefeed.org.uk/our-projects/socsup