Interactive bus stop talks health in Brighton & Hove

Modern day living is busy so to help people find time to think about their health, One You, with the help of Dr Hilary, is taking to a bus stop on Western Road, Brighton, to ask people how they really are. This is one of nine interactive bus stops which are now live across England as part of Public Health England’s One You campaign to encourage adults to make simple changes to improve their health.

Television doctor Dr Hilary Jones features in the digital bus stop which is the first of its kind to provide tailored health messages. Dr Hilary appears on a large screen at the bus stop in an interactive pre-recorded message. Via the screen, Dr Hilary asks passers-by to call a free phone number whilst they wait for a bus to receive information from him to help them improve their health. Following the call, the caller is texted with a message from Dr Hilary with a link to the free One You online health quiz, ‘How Are You’. 

One You is the first ever nationwide campaign to address preventable death and disease in adults caused by modern day life. Everyday habits and behaviours – such as eating too much unhealthy food, drinking more than is recommended, smoking and not being active enough - are responsible for around 40 per cent of all deaths in England, and cost the NHS more than £11 billion a year.

Dr Hilary Jones said: “It is difficult for people to find time to prioritise their health amongst the demands of modern day life, so when better to take stock of how you are feeling than while waiting for a bus? The bus stops which can be found around the country ask people how they really are and provide them with free One You support to help them take action and improve their health.

“My patients often think that ill health in later life is inevitable, yet making small changes now can have a dramatic impact on preventing illness and improving how they feel now and in the years to come.”

The chair of Brighton & Hove’s health and wellbeing board, Councillor Daniel Yates, went along to the installation of the bus stop on Sunday 10 April to support the campaign. Cllr Yates said: “We are working with Public Health England to encourage people to think about simple ways to improve health for the future. It is sometimes easy to forget to prioritise ourselves and, especially our health, in the pressures of everyday life.

“The One You campaign is about helping people to look at small differences which will make a big long-term personal difference to health and wellbeing. The bus stop is an innovative way to start the conversation with people travelling in our city.”

The One You interactive bus stop will be appearing at the Bus Stop G (Outside the O2 Store), Western Road, Brighton, BN1 2BA from 11 until 25 April 2016

The photo above shows Cllr Daniel Yates (left) with Dr Hilary Jones at the interactive bus stop in central Brighton

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