Leading Health Charity Launches Tayside Health Hub to Tackle Health Inequalities 29 August 2024 Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland has launched its newest health hub in Dundee in a bid to reduce the number of people living with heart disease and other serious conditions. The charity supports people living with chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid to live their lives to the full, with a focus on supported self management. The launch of the CHSS Tayside Hub at the Douglas Sports Centre in Dundee is part of the charity’s commitment to expanding its services to reach 175000 people by 2028. Statistics from Public Health Scotland show the most deprived areas of Tayside have higher incidences of coronary heart disease and COPD hospital admissions. Figures from NHS Tayside show that stroke death rates in the area are higher than the national average (47.8 per 100k in Tayside vs 39.6 per 100k in Scotland in 22/23) The CHSS Tayside Hub will provide access to health checks, information about the management and prevention of chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid, as well as access to exercise classes. Health checks offered include blood pressure and cholesterol checks. The launch is an expansion of the charity’s Prevention Services which includes it’s Health Hub in Glasgow’s Maryhill as well as it’s Movement Matters programme and extensive Health Information resources. Prior to the launch of the Hub, CHSS carried out a survey of people in Tayside living with chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid. 61% of respondents agreed they would benefit from informal health checks and 68% agreed they would benefit from lifestyle support, including advice on physical activity, healthy eating, smoking cessation and managing alcohol consumption. The charity is also holding in person and online focus groups in the local community to ensure the services it provides directly reflect the needs of people living in the area. Jane-Claire Judson, chief executive of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland said: “The figures show that incidences of the conditions we support are significantly higher in Dundee than the average in Scotland. We also know from speaking to people in the local area that they are in need of additional help and support. The launch of the CHSS Tayside Hub is a key step in ensuring we reach even more people who are living with chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid to get the support they desperately need. “Our goal is to work in partnership with the local community to develop a service that meets the needs of people in Tayside. “We regularly hear from people living with our conditions that they feel isolated and alone. Providing a hub for people to come together and get access to the support they need can make a significant difference to people’s lives.” In addition to the newly launched Tayside Hub, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland already provides access to virtual and in person support, exercise groups, supported health walks, kindness services, and access to Peer Support Groups in Tayside as part of its Community Healthcare Support Services. Jamie Kelly, Physical Activity Manager at Leisure & Culture Dundee said: “Leisure & Culture Dundee are delighted to be working in partnership with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland to develop the Health Defence programme. The health and wellbeing team are committed to supporting those affected by long term conditions and in particular have developed a successful rehabilitation programme for stroke alongside Dundee Stroke Exercise Club, delivered as part of the Active for Life initiative. “This new collaboration with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland developing a hub at Douglas Sport Centre will further improve the level of support available and create an even better pathway to increasing physical activity levels and supporting people towards a healthier life through meaningful person-centred support.” The Douglas Centre is already home to CHSS Peer Support Group the Dundee Stroke Exercise Club (DSEC). The group is open to anyone who has had a stroke, and offers a range of accessible, instructor-led exercise classes of varying intensities. Margaret Mitchell MBE, retired stroke nurse and Chairperson of DSEC said: “At DSEC we see very clearly the impact stroke has on individuals and families. What we actually need is to focus on reducing the ever-increasing numbers of people having Coronary Heart Disease and stroke. In order to do this we need to focus on primary prevention. Primary prevention is vital in reducing risk and stemming the flow of these conditions. “The new Health Defence hub will play a vital part in identifying and addressing people at risk and directing and supporting lifestyle changes. “It is situated in a perfect locality at Douglas Sports Centre in Dundee and will capture individuals who would not normally have health checks.” To find out more about how to access services at the CHSS Tayside Health Hub or to volunteer at the hub contact healthdefence@chss.org.uk.