Matt Ryan was among dozens of Geelong health professionals getting their blood pressure checked on Monday to reduce the risk of stroke.
“I was pleasantly surprised with my check,” the father-of-four and Epworth Geelong emergency department director said.
Dr Ryan hoped to lead by example as the Ryman Healthcare Blood Pressure Van stopped at Epworth for World Hypertension Day.
“A lot of healthcare staff who are at the frontline looking after people and other people’s families, sadly, sometimes find it difficult to prioritise their healthcare,” he said.
“We thought this initiative … was a small way of assisting our staff, to provide a reminder of the importance of their own personal healthcare.”
The visit is part of a Stroke Foundation campaign to save lives by eliminating high blood pressure.
More than 33,000 people in Geelong have high blood pressure – many unknowingly – according to the foundation.
In the Corio electorate, 189 people had their first stroke in 2020, with 3139 people living with the impact of the condition.
But research shows eliminating high blood pressure could prevent almost half of strokes.
After two decades working in Geelong emergency departments, Dr Ryan has had “a front row seat” to the importance of preventative health check-ups.
“We see the impact of patients not having the opportunity to engage in primary healthcare,” he said.
Ryman Healthcare spokesperson Denise Thompson said the van would “save lives”, after COVID-19 led to a decrease in health check-ups Australia-wide during 2020.
“The coronavirus pandemic taught us the true value of making our health a priority,” Ms Thompson said.
Details: strokefoundation.org.au
