Shoppers in Warrington will get the chance to have a free blood pressure check and health MOT as part of World Stroke Day on Saturday (29th October).

The Stroke Association and doctors and nurses from Warrington Hospital's stroke unit are running a 'stroke shop' in Golden Square on the day. Between 12 noon and 3pm, the team will be in the community square next to Mark and Spencer's.

Shoppers and anyone with blood pressure or pulse concerns can drop in. As well as a free check, visitors can find out their risk, the signs of stroke and how to act fast in the case of emergency.

Around 150,000 people in the UK have a stroke each year. That's one person every five minutes. Stroke is now the third most common cause of death in the UK, but may be prevented if people understand the risks and take action to reduce them.

Warrington Hospital provides an excellent stroke service that the Royal College of Physicians rates as in the top 25% in the UK. It provides emergency and rehabilitation care on the wards. This is alongside an excellent community service, which aims to get stroke survivors back home where possible, with the right support.

The hospital works closely with The Stroke Association who provide emotional support and practical information on the wards. They also play a key role in helping stroke survivors and their families at home and in the community as they continue their journey back to life after a stroke.

Jane Guy, Information, Advice and Support Coordinator for The Stroke Association in Warrington said,

"The sad fact is that one in every six people around the world will have a stroke. It is a scary statistic but one that we can change. People can learn more about their risk and make changes to reduce it. That's what the stroke shop is about. We want to urge everyone to take five minutes to know your blood pressure because it could save your life."

"We're extremely grateful to Golden Square for supporting us. We will be there with a team of doctors and nurses from the hospital on hand to give you expert advice. These checks only take a minute but could be life-saving."

The checks are important because high blood pressure is a key stroke danger sign. Most people don't realise their blood pressure could be a concern. The Stroke Association and hospital team did checks on fans at a recent Warrington Wolves game. Out of 216 checks, they advised 48 fans to go and see their GP within a week because of the readings. A further 64 were advised to follow it up within a month.

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