New research health bus hits the North East and North Cumbria roads

Following the agreement of an exciting new collaboration between the CRN NENC and Newcastle GP Services, a purpose-built community health bus has been launched across the region to support the provision of research participation opportunities and to increase research engagement.

The bus named ‘Monty’ by Willow aged 10 from Fenham provides a range of health services including blood pressure checks, cholesterol monitoring, cervical screening, diabetes advice, health signposting and more. In addition to providing these vital health services we are now able to offer the use of ‘Monty’ to our partner organisations. Access to this additional agile resource will enable reach across our communities to facilitate important health care and research activities.

Tackling health inequalities

The overall focus of the Newcastle Community Health Bus is to tackle health inequalities and make healthcare and health information more accessible, especially in areas of deprivation around the region.

Newcastle GP Services have been running this community health initiative with great success, with the bus visiting venues across the city including central Newcastle, Westgate Road, Walker, and Elswick. The exciting addition of increased research activity and opportunities to participate has been very well received so far and we look forward to seeing it grow and develop further over the coming months.

Morag Burton, Network Director for Regional Research Delivery Network North East and North Cumbria, said: “This is a great initiative. Having this resource and opportunity to get out into communities and provide health checks and promote health research to the public is vitally important to people’s health now, but also to increase participation in health research to better inform and improve future treatments and cures.

“The whole Network is excited and enthusiastic about working together on the bus around the region to increase access to care and reach even more people with research.”

Emily Maughan, Head of Clinical Services at NGPS said “We’re really pleased to be able to work with the NIHR and help them get more people involved in research. The more opportunities we have to get the bus out into the community the better – it’s just what it’s for!”

Caroline Wroe, Clinical Director for CRN NENC said “The funding and idea for the bus came from the CRN NENC team and executive and it's great to see this work launched as a legacy for the new Research Delivery Network.”

In addition to Monty the Newcastle Community Health Bus, the south of the region has also launched its very own purpose built research bus. ‘Ralph’, (Monty’s brother) has begun reaching out to the local communities around Teesside.

Supported by CRN NENC core team members, Hartlepool & Stockton Health, a local GP Federation, have attended multiple HAF programme days throughout the school summer holidays with their research bus, promoting health research to local children and families.

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is a free initiative that offers activities and food for children and young people aged 4 to 16 during school holidays in Teesside. The program is funded by the Government's Department for Education (DfE) and runs during the three main school holidays: Christmas, Easter, and summer.

Carl Gowland, Head of Operations & Service Delivery at Hartlepool & Stockton Health, said: "Everything we do is to improve the health and wellbeing of local people, which is why we’re so excited about RALPH, our new research and outreach bus.

The ability to take him out and about across the region allows us to provide health information and care directly to patients in their communities.

“We are incredibly proud that one of RALPH’s first projects is working with the CRN NENC team on regional visits. We’ve loved meeting so many children and families across our area and helping them to understand what health research is and how it can benefit us all.”

Bus locations

The buses will be visiting a variety of locations across the region. If you would like to use the bus or would like more information about when and where the buses will be visiting please contact Fiona Yelnoorkar at fiona.yelnoorkar@nihr.ac.uk or visit the links below.

The Newcastle GP Services Website 
The Hartlepool and Stockton Health Website