SILHILLIANS climbed onboard a special bus to get a free health check and find out more about the importance of cancer screening.

Cancer specialists and other health and care professionals were on hand in Chelmsley Wood as part of the fourth leg of a bus tour, bringing accessible health services and information into neighbourhoods across Birmingham and Solihull.

Residents and Solihull Council leader, Councillor Karen Grinsell, hopped on board to get health checks and could talk with staff about and concerns.

NHS staff and partners across health and social care were on board the big red bus to talk about the importance of cancer screening, how to check for different cancers, and hand out information on routine health checks and living the healthiest possible life.

Teams on the bus also helped attendees with signposting to other wellbeing services, such as gambling, drugs and alcohol support and smoking cessation.

NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) say since its launch in September 2024, 850 health checks have been carried out on the bus and 1,300 health information bags have been given out to members of the public.

The initiative is led by NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB and delivered in collaboration with health and care partners including Macmillan Cancer Support, the West Midlands Cancer Alliance, University Hospitals Birmingham and the Help in Brum project.

Dr Clara Day, chief medical officer for NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB, said: “Increasing uptake of screening for cancer is one of our biggest priorities.

“The bus tour allows us to meet people where they are, in familiar and local community settings, and have important conversations about cancer screening and healthier lifestyles without the need for a hospital or GP visit.”

Harvir Singh, senior programme manager for Early Cancer Diagnosis at the West Midlands Cancer Alliance (WMCA), said: “We are delighted to continue supporting the cancer bus tour initiative after an incredibly successful year so far. The tour is an innovative way of engaging people in their local communities, raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and encouraging screening uptake. It is also an opportunity to hear directly from local citizens the barriers they face when seeking help or attending screening appointments that can help us shape cancer services for the future.”