5 October 2026 | The Liverpool Ark Discovery Centre (The LADC)

Sometimes, we get so caught up in the busyness of everyday life that we forget to pay attention to our health. We sit for hours working at our desks, rush through our daily routines, and put off those little health checks that could make a difference. That is one of the reasons I was so pleased to be part of The LADC Medical Outreach on 5 October 2026.

It was an afternoon of health checks, useful conversations and practical advice, with medical professionals giving their time and expertise to help members of the community take better care of themselves.

And yes, I had a few interesting experiences of my own!

A little prick, a lot of useful information!

I spoke with Dr Temi, who checked my blood sugar levels. This involved a little prick on my finger. I won’t pretend I was particularly excited about that part, but it didn’t hurt too badly. Cry!

What I appreciated most was that she didn’t simply take the reading and move on. She asked whether I had eaten shortly before the test and explained how eating can cause blood sugar levels to rise, which can affect the result.

Thankfully, my reading was within the expected range at the time of the check. It was a useful reminder that these simple checks matter. Knowing where you stand with your health is always better than making assumptions.

Are you sitting properly?

One of my conversations was with Yetunde, a physiotherapist, who shared some practical advice about posture and the way we sit when working, whether in an office or at home.

She explained the importance of having the right chair and table setup to support good posture. This is especially relevant for those of us who spend long periods sitting at a desk or working on a computer.

It made me think about how easily we overlook our everyday habits. We might invest in equipment to help us work more efficiently, but how much thought do we give to whether our workspace is actually good for our bodies?

Yetunde also mentioned that she was surprised by how many of the clients she saw that afternoon went to the gym. It was an interesting observation and a reminder that looking after our health involves more than one thing. Exercise is important, but so are our posture, everyday movements and the habits we maintain throughout the day.

Getting the basics right

I also spoke with Nurse Shindara, who was weighing people and measuring their heights as part of the initial assessment process. These measurements helped prepare people for their consultations with the doctors, including checks such as calculating their body mass index (BMI).

It was a good example of how different members of a healthcare team work together. Before a consultation even begins, these basic observations can provide useful information to help healthcare professionals assess a person’s general health.

The outreach also included psychologists, highlighting the importance of mental and emotional wellbeing alongside physical health. Looking after ourselves means paying attention to the whole person, not just what we can see or measure.

Twenty minutes with a dentist — and I loved every minute!

My favourite conversation of the afternoon was with Dr Taiwo, a dentist. We spent a good 20 minutes talking about dental hygiene, and I came away with a much better appreciation of how much there is to learn about looking after our teeth properly.

She explained the importance of brushing techniques, including how we hold our toothbrushes and the way we clean our teeth. We also discussed flossing, cleaning dentures properly and making the best use of mouthwash.

It was one of those conversations that reminds you that doing something every day does not necessarily mean you are doing it correctly. Most of us brush our teeth as part of our normal routine, but are we paying enough attention to how we do it?

I appreciated how Dr Taiwo took the time to explain these things rather than simply giving a quick list of instructions. Sometimes, a little extra knowledge can help us make better choices long after the conversation has ended.

And that is what made the afternoon so valuable to me. It wasn’t just about having a check done; it was about learning something practical that I could take home and put into practice.

The numbers behind the afternoon

While I have shared some of my personal experiences, the outreach was about much more than my own conversations.

A total of 15 medical professionals participated in the outreach, providing consultations and support across different areas of healthcare.

Here is a breakdown of the people reached:

• 5 physiotherapy consultations were carried out.
• 14 dental consultations were provided.
• 33 general physical health consultations, including physical observations, were carried out by medical doctors, nurses and other allied health professionals.

That brought the total to 52 clients seen during the afternoon.

Following their consultations, two clients were advised to self-refer to their GP for further evaluation. This is an important part of community health outreach: helping people recognise when they may need additional assessment and encouraging them to take the appropriate next steps.

Why community medical outreach matters

For me, the value of the outreach goes beyond the numbers. It is about making healthcare conversations more accessible, encouraging people to pay attention to their wellbeing and creating opportunities to learn from professionals who are willing to share their knowledge.

It is also a reminder that health is not only about what happens when we feel unwell. It includes the everyday decisions we make, the way we care for our bodies, the habits we develop and the steps we take to understand our health better.

From checking blood sugar levels to learning about posture, dental hygiene and general physical health, the afternoon offered practical information that people could take away and apply in their daily lives.

At The Liverpool Ark Discovery Centre (The LADC), we believe that supporting our community includes creating opportunities for people to learn, connect and access helpful services.

A big thank you to all 15 medical professionals who gave their time and expertise, and to everyone who came along to take part.

Fifty-two people were seen, but the hope is that the knowledge shared will continue to make a difference well beyond that afternoon.

Because sometimes, taking better care of ourselves starts with a simple conversation, a routine check or learning one small thing we didn’t know before.