BARNSLEY Council’s How’s Thi Ticker team has won a national Public Health award.

How’s Thi Ticker is a community blood pressure check campaign which brings free blood pressure checks out into communities.

The team, which won this year’s Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Public Health award, has delivered more than 7,500 free blood pressure checks to date, making it easier for people to find out their numbers and have important conversations about looking after their health.

A council spokesman said: “Working closely with the NHS, Area Teams and pharmacies, How’s Thi Ticker was developed with local residents at the heart of everything we do, from the name to the locations we visit.

“We continue to develop our approach to meet the needs of local people, encouraging more people to get tested for the first time. This prestigious award win recognises the innovative approaches we’ve taken to bringing health checks to our high streets and communities.”

The award was one of two wins for Barnsley at the ceremony in London, with the Supported Employment team picking up the Economic Development award.

These two trophies follow the council’s success as overall Council of the Year at the same ceremony last year.

Anna Hartley, Executive Director for Public Health and Communities, said: “We want everyone in Barnsley to be able to enjoy life in good physical and mental health, getting the right support at the right time and place to tackle problems early.

“Over the past two years, How’s Thi Ticker has been an amazing local success, welcoming esteemed visitors from NHS England to see how we’re doing things differently in Barnsley. With communities at the heart of How’s Thi Ticker, it’s great to see the impact of everything our team has achieved to improve people’s lives recognised by our LGC Awards success.”

Getting a blood pressure check is quick, easy and could save your life. The team is regularly out and about across Barnsley, running sessions where you can get your blood pressure checked for free and get advice on looking after your heart. You can find out where the team will be popping by visiting https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551443729828

The team also runs dedicated sessions for local businesses. If you want to run a session for your workforce, email HowsThiTicker@barnsley.gov.uk.

For most people, high blood pressure won’t come with any symptoms. However, if it’s not diagnosed and treated, it can lead to serious health problems.

If you’re concerned about your blood pressure, pop into your local pharmacy or visit your GP. There are lots of simple things you can do to bring your numbers down, including cutting down on alcohol, stopping smoking, being more active and eating a diet that’s low in salt.