Since Public Health Isle of Man launched a SISU Health Station at Northern Swimming Pool in February, 1,700 free health checks have been completed by 1,335 people. A portable SISU Mini is complementing the fixed Ramsey station by bringing quick, self-service checks to events and everyday community spaces across the island, helping more people understand their health risks and take action earlier.
A health check on the Isle of Man no longer has to start with a long trip to a GP practice. It can begin before a swim in Ramsey, during a library visit, on a shopping trip or between displays at an agricultural show.
That flexibility is central to Public Health Isle of Man’s approach. Since 23 February 2026, a full-size Health Station has provided a permanent base in the north of the island, while the portable Mini has taken the same free checks to different communities, venues and events.
A permanent base for prevention in Ramsey
The full-size Health Station is located in the foyer of Northern Swimming Pool, where anyone aged 16 or over can complete a free health check in around five minutes.
The station measures key health indicators including blood pressure, heart rate, height and weight, giving users immediate results and clear guidance on any next steps.
Ramsey was deliberately selected to test the service in a rural area and provide local GP practices with another way to help patients monitor their vital signs.
The swimming pool also brings together a broader mix of people than its name might suggest. Alongside those visiting to exercise, the venue attracts people meeting in its café for food, drinks and conversation. Its busy but discreet foyer makes the check visible and convenient without compromising privacy.
The Health Station provides a simple way to help take control of your health, take any action early and maintain your independence.
The service offers an easy alternative to a GP health check that fits into everyday life, and it helps Public Health to build a clearer picture of local needs so that we can plan services and support more effectively, potentially reducing demand on wider health services.
Dr Matt Tyrer, Director of Public Health Isle of Man
Taking free health checks across a rural island
For people living across a largely rural island, getting to a GP appointment or travelling to the fixed Health Station in Ramsey is not always easy. The portable Mini is helping to overcome that challenge by bringing the same free, self-service health check directly into towns, community venues and events across the island.
It has appeared at two of the island’s agricultural shows, including the Royal Manx Agricultural Show on 8 and 9 August. It has also visited Douglas City Library and the Strand Shopping Centre, placing preventative health alongside ordinary days out, errands and community activities.
The library and shopping centre visits coincided with the school holidays, helping the team engage new visitors alongside people who use the venues regularly, but may not have visited their GP for some time. Some people also returned for another check during the pop-up period.
The former Cabinet Office Minister David Ashford MBE was among those to use the Mini during its recent visit to Douglas City Library.
The two formats play distinct but connected roles. The Ramsey station provides a consistent base for people in the north and somewhere for users to return to, while the Mini reduces the need to travel by taking the same health check closer to communities elsewhere on the island.
Early results highlight previously unchecked risks
The volume of checks shows clear interest in the service, but the findings also demonstrate why making them easier to access matters.
Of the 1,335 people who have participated to date:
- 60% had not had their blood pressure checked during the previous 12 months
- 3% recorded high blood pressure
- 8% were overweight or obese
- 3% identified as smokers
Overall, 550 people recorded at least one of three significant health risks: high blood pressure, obesity or smoking. More than one in five of this group recorded multiple risk factors.
The checks also generated 356 prompts recommending that users contact their GP, helping connect people with further support when their results indicated that follow-up may be needed.
Repeat checks show encouraging early changes
Some of the most encouraging findings come from people who have returned to monitor their health again.
The latest repeat-user data shows:
- The proportion recording high blood pressure fell by 53.3% across a cohort of 92 repeat users
- The proportion identifying as smokers fell by 27.3% across 118 repeat users
- The proportion recording high BMI fell by 8.6% across 100 repeat users
These remain early findings, but they suggest people are doing more than simply checking their results. They are returning, tracking changes and taking steps to improve their health.
The Health Station has been a great success in encouraging people to monitor their blood pressure and take an active interest in their health and wellbeing, including weight and lifestyle management.
Dr Lisa Drew, GP Lead for the Northern Health and Care Community
Free health checks continue until February 2027
The fixed Health Station remains available at Northern Swimming Pool until February 2027. It is free for anyone aged 16 or over to use and does not require a GP appointment.
Alongside this consistent base in Ramsey, the Mini’s appearances in Douglas and at the island’s agricultural shows demonstrate how the service can adapt to different locations and opportunities.
For individuals, that means more chances to understand their health and identify potential concerns early. For Public Health Isle of Man, the programme provides a growing picture of local health needs and how people engage when prevention is brought into everyday settings.
As Dr Tyrer told BBC News when the Health Station launched, early detection can reduce the likelihood that people will need more complex healthcare interventions later and, ultimately, help them live “longer, healthier lives.”
Bring health checks to the places people already visit
The Isle of Man programme shows how fixed and mobile Health Stations can work together. A permanent station gives people a familiar place to check and track their health, while the Mini extends access through events and everyday community settings.
SISU Health can help you create a flexible prevention model that reaches more of your population, identifies hidden risks and connects people with local support earlier.
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