Men’s Health Issues
President Ray Hansen welcomed our speaker, retired Professor and Consultant Urologist Chris Booth on 3rd September.
Prof. Chris Booth
Chris Booth lamented that, despite the United Kingdom having the 6th largest GDP in the Western World, we languished in a very low place regarding the promotion of male health. Sadly more emphasis had been placed by the NHS on the health of females and children. It was for these reasons that CHAPS had been set up in the East of the country.
His talk was not without controversy, stating that the national prostate charities had “sat on the fence” regarding the importance of the screening blood test for prostatic cancer (PSA), statistics proving that if it was carried out routinely the mortality would be halved. He mentioned that a recent trial of general practitioners in Bristol demonstrated a disturbing lack of knowledge of prostate disease and that perhaps the ever increasing percentage of female general practitioners did not help!
Although Chris concentrated on the symptoms, screening and treatment of prostate disease, his organisation covered the whole spectrum of male health, including heart disease, strokes, diabetes, depression etc.
In the knowledge that men were reticent in seeking advice, CHAPS aims to raise awareness and support the development of new health services targeting men’s needs. One of the ways they do so is by holding walk-in screening clinics in different parts of the region. One such clinic was held in Clacton last year which some members took advantage of. Inevitably such projects require sponsorship, grant aid and fundraising. A project in the making maybe.