Sandwell residents benefit from free blood pressure monitors donated by Cannock firm

Communities in Sandwell are to benefit from 100 free blood pressure monitors to improve their health and wellbeing, after they were donated by a company in Cannock.

Logistics firm Super Smart Service Ltd donated the equipment for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to give to residents who would benefit the most.

Working with Sandwell Council Public Health, the WMCA’s wellbeing team and the company have now presented the monitors to eight community groups in Sandwell.

Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “We know that there are significant health inequalities across the region, which sadly have been made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.

“So it’s really good news that we’ve been contacted by Super Smart Service, offering free blood pressure monitors to help residents to take a preventative measure and guard against ill health.

“I’d like to thank the company for their generous donation to improve the wellbeing of hundreds of Sandwell residents.”

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, WMCA portfolio holder for wellbeing and leader of Warwickshire County Council, said: “I welcome the kind donation of these blood pressure monitors from a local business.

“This has enabled us to work with Sandwell Public Health to help prevent ill health in those communities in greatest need.”

Cllr Suzanne Hartwell, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for adults, social care and health, said: “We want the people of Sandwell to live healthily and to live well for longer, so we welcome the donation of 100 blood pressure monitors by Super Smart Service Ltd.

“These will greatly assist in delivering community-based opportunities that help local people, meet their needs, and build a healthier, more resilient Sandwell.”

Which organisations have received the monitors?

• North Smethwick Development Trust
• Bangladeshi Women’s Association
• West Midlands Activities Community Fitness Centre (WMA)
• The Albion Foundation
• SAFS, Caring Family Support
• Cape Caring
• St Albans
• Smethwick Jamia Masjid

Jenn Harrison BEM, chief executive officer of North Smethwick Development Trust, said: “This is fantastic news for our community centre and the local population. We already run lots of activities and services, such as our food pantry, to encourage people to have a healthy lifestyle.

“Giving people access to these good quality machines will help to start a conversation to improve their health and wellbeing.”

Charles Lu, general manager of Super Smart Service Ltd trading as Elogistic, a global third party fulfilment warehousing service provider, said: “We take our social responsibility very seriously, and this is a joint donation from us and our client Andon Health Co. Ltd publicly listed in China, who is renowned in making portable medical, wellbeing and beauty equipment for domestic use.

“We decided to make this donation to help people who are in need, promote health and wellbeing for the community and contribute to addressing health inequalities.”

WATCH | Jenn Harrison & Charles Lu on blood pressure monitors:

For more information about how the WMCA is helping communities to become healthier and happier, click here.