Residents in Welwyn Garden City can access free health checks and wellbeing support this week as the Better Health Bus visits The Howard Centre on Friday 8 May 2026. The mobile service, operated by Public Health Hertfordshire, is open to anyone who lives or is registered with a GP in the county.
The event, promoted by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, provides a range of health services without the need for an appointment. Eligible adults aged 40 to 74 can receive free NHS health checks, which are designed to detect early signs of conditions such as heart disease, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, and dementia. Additionally, the service offers wellbeing checks for adults aged 18 and over, support to stop smoking with free four-week vape starter kits, and free chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing kits for those aged 15 and older.
The visit to the shopping centre at Howardsgate builds on the council’s ongoing health initiatives. The council’s Healthy Hub team already maintains a regular presence at The Howard Centre, operating from the Corner of Knowledge space located upstairs near the lifts. By bringing the mobile unit to this central venue, the county aims to provide more convenient access to preventative health advice.
Since the programme launched in July 2024, the Better Health Bus has attended 157 events and conducted 1,200 health checks across the region. The initiative is intended to reach residents in the community by providing a private, accessible setting for health intervention.
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