The UK’s largest health research program is holding 10 new mobile clinics in July 2024.

Our Future Health aims to research prevention, detection and treatment of conditions like dementia, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. 

Mobile clinics will visit Tesco Car Park on Tapstone Road in Chard, Boots in 64-55 Taunton High Street and the Boots store at 37 Middle Street Yeovil.

In August, these clinics will also open in Bridgwater and Exmouth, locations set to be announced.

At their clinic appointment, as well as having a blood sample and some physical measurements taken, volunteers will be offered information about their own health, including their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

In the future, volunteers will also be given the option to receive feedback about their risk of some diseases and have the opportunity to take part in cutting-edge research studies.  

The programme is sending invitations to people who live near the new clinics. Anyone over the age of 18 can join by signing up online at ourfuturehealth.org.uk, completing an online health questionnaire, and booking a short clinic appointment.

Volunteer Dionne Thompson, 47 shared her reasons for taking part: “Working in healthcare, I regularly witness the need for better preventative care. If we could offer people more of this, so many lives would be changed for the better. I signed up to Our Future Health because I wanted to contribute to the data pool. The more of us who do this, the sooner progress will be made in healthcare for everyone.”

Dr Raghib Ali, chief executive and chief medical officer of Our Future Health, said: “We want Our Future Health to help researchers make new discoveries about diseases that affect people across the UK. That’s why we’re bringing new clinics to different areas each month, so people from different backgrounds across the UK can volunteer and help build the biggest picture we’ve ever had of people’s health. Anyone over the age of 18 can take part, regardless of health conditions, so please do get involved.”