Leading Scottish Health Charity Launches Grampian Health Hub

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland – the country’s largest heath charity supporting people living with chest, heart and stroke conditions and Long Covid – launched its Grampian Health Hub this week. 

The launch of the CHSS Grampian Hub at Aberdeen City Vaccination & Wellbeing Hub at the Bon Accord Centre in Aberdeen and at Get Active Northfield (Sport Aberdeen) is part of the charity’s commitment to expanding its services to reach 175000 people by 2028. 

The Grampian Hub will offer free health checks such as blood pressure and cholesterol checks, as well as advice and information to assist in the prevention of our conditions whilst also supporting individuals to live well with their existing conditions. 

A tailored Women’s Health service will also be piloted, supporting women’s heart health through the delivery of women’s specific groups, discussions and establishing a better network with new and existing partners in the area. 

Jane-Claire Judson, chief executive of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland said: “The launch of our CHSS Grampian Hub is a vital step in ensuring we reach the 1 in 5 people  in the Grampian community  who could be or are living with one of our conditions to get the crucial support they need. Our goal is to work in partnership with the local community to develop a service that meets the needs of people in the Grampian area.  

“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 and the way they manage their condition. 

“We’re also delighted to launch a service which is tailored to the needs of local women. This is something we have wanted to create for a long time and we’re proud to make it come to fruition. Offering tailored support for women’s heart health checks is important due to the disparity in heart health based on gender.  

“There are around 80,000 women in Scotland living with heart disease and it is one of the most common causes of death for women across the country. Despite this, heart attacks and heart disease are often underestimated and under-treated in women compared to men and they face serious inequalities in heart treatment. 

“Our Grampian Hub will help to start put that right and make a real difference to women’s heart health.” 

Caroline Anderson, Programme Manager for the Aberdeen Vaccination & Wellbeing Hub, said: “This service will be a fantastic addition to the Hub. It brings together health, social care, and third sector organisations under one roof to support people’s health and wellbeing, with a strong focus on prevention and early intervention which are key priorities within the Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership’s strategic aims.  

“Our partnership with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland will significantly strengthen this approach, particularly by offering free health checks, which our communities have consistently asked for during public engagement and feedback sessions.

“Importantly, this collaboration also supports people to better self-manage their health conditions, contributes to improving the overall health of the population, and helps to narrow the inequalities gap by making services more accessible and inclusive. We are really looking forward to working more closely with the Health Defence Scotland team to help people live healthier, more supported lives.” 

In addition to the newly launched Grampian Hub, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland already provides access to virtual and in person support, supported self management programmes, exercise groups, supported health walks, and access to Peer Support Groups in Grampian as part of its Community Healthcare Support Services. Once the Grampian Hub becomes more established, CHSS will expand its outreach across Aberdeenshire and Moray. 

To find out more about how to access services at the CHSS Grampian Health Hub or to volunteer at the hub contact healthdefence@chss.org.uk.