Blood pressure testing in Uxbridge

The residents of Uxbridge are being invited to help celebrate the first ever Universities Week by having a free blood pressure test.

Staff and students from Buckinghamshire New University’s Uxbridge Campus will be offering the public the opportunity to have their blood pressure taken in The Mall Pavilions shopping centre, Uxbridge, from 10am-4pm on Monday 14 June.

Prof David Brodie, Head of Research in the Faculty of Society & Health, and an expert in cardiovascular health, said: “Universities Week is about demystifying the work of universities and showcasing some of the benefits of universities to the general public. High blood pressure can lead to heart, brain or kidney damage, as well as damage to the eyes, difficulty sleeping or sexual dysfunction, and result in conditions such as strokes and heart attacks. It is therefore vital that people who may be at risk have their blood pressure checked.

“We will be able to tell people if their blood pressure is abnormal and advise them about next steps. Our Uxbridge Campus is the home of our Nursing provision and applied healthcare research and we are delighted to be able to offer practical support to the people of Uxbridge.”

The event is part of a nationwide campaign, entitled Universities Week, which will see over 100 universities and linked organisations highlighting the essential role that universities play in sustaining our society, culture and economy.

Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive, Universities UK, says: “Our universities are so much more than the teaching institutions for which they are often only recognised. For the first time we’ve brought all of the country’s higher education achievements under one single banner, to highlight what else our universities have to offer on a local and national level.

“We have such a strong story to tell in the UK about our universities and how they make such a major contribution to so many different areas of our lives. Quite apart from the transformative effect of higher education on students, our universities are an integral part of society.”

Universities Week is running from 14-20 June 2010, throughout the UK. With other activities taking place throughout June, Universities Week is the most comprehensive festival of our universities that we’ve ever seen.

Bucks New University will also be offering members of the public the chance to visit the University’s High Wycombe Campus during its Open Day on Wednesday 16 June from 11am-4pm and to find out more about its postgraduate courses from 5-7pm. The University will also be opening its doors for the End of Year Show, Bucks EYeS, which showcases the work of final year students in areas including advertising, ceramics, glass, furniture, spatial design andtextiles. The show is open from 10am-3pm on Saturday 12 June, and from 10am-4pm from Monday 14-Thursday 17 June.