Have You Heard? We’re Bringing Healthcare Out of the Surgery and Into the Community

And This Year… We’re Teaching You How to Save a Life

Yes, you read that right. At this year’s Southend Coastal Surgeries Health Fair, we’re offering free CPR and choking response training for everyone who attends. No booking, no fuss,  just real, practical, life‑saving skills you can learn in minutes.

Why start with CPR? Because it’s the kind of thing people always mean to learn, but never quite get around to. And because most cardiac arrests happen at home or in public places, meaning the first person on the scene is usually a family member, friend, colleague, or passer‑by. That person could be you.

This year, we want to give our community something powerful: A skill that could save a life at home, at work, in a restaurant, or even in the street.

Southend Coastal Surgeries Health Fair- everyone welcome.

Wednesday 12th August 2026Shoeburyness & Thorpe Bay Baptist Church (90 Thorpe Dene Gardens, SS3 9JD)10am – 4pm

Why Learning CPR and Choking First Aid Matters

Around 80% of cardiac arrests happen at home or in public places. Survival rates can be three times higher when a bystander starts CPR before emergency services arrive. Every minute without CPR reduces the chance of survival by around 10%.

In choking emergencies, those first few moments are just as critical; quick, confident action can prevent brain injury or death within minutes.

These aren’t just statistics; they represent real people, parents, children, friends, neighbours. If even one person leaves our health fair with the skills and confidence to save a life, every moment of preparation will have been worth it.

Talks, Mini Sessions & Partner Support Throughout the Day

Throughout the Health Fair, we’ll be running a variety of short, friendly, informative talks and mini‑sessions designed to give you practical knowledge you can use straight away. These sessions sit alongside our CPR and choking training, hands‑on demonstrations, and community stalls, creating a day full of learning, support, and real‑world skills.

Across the event, you’ll be able to drop into sessions on respiratory health and lung support, sexual health and wellbeing delivered by Brook Sexual Health, healthy living and lifestyle guidance from Everyone Health, and a simple, jargon‑free introduction to how your local NHS works from Southend East PCN. You can also join our CPR and choking response demonstrations, where you’ll learn why quick, confident actions can make all the difference in an emergency.

This year’s Health Fair is very much a team effort. Prevention works best when organisations work together, and we’re delighted to welcome a fantastic group of partners who share our commitment to keeping our community healthy, informed, and supported. These include Brook Sexual Health, Respiratory Health Services, Everyone Health, and Southend East Primary Care Network — just a few of the many organisations joining us on the day. Each brings specialist knowledge, friendly staff, and a shared passion for improving health and wellbeing across Southend. Together, we’re creating an event full of practical advice, expert guidance, and opportunities to learn skills that genuinely save lives.

Why We Run Health Fairs

At Southend Coastal Surgeries, we believe healthcare should be more than appointments, prescriptions, and reacting when something goes wrong. Modern NHS guidance is clear: the future of healthcare is preventative, helping people stay well, spotting problems early, and giving people the confidence to manage their own health.

Health fairs give us something we don’t always get in day‑to‑day general practice: time, space, and the chance to talk to our community without the pressure of a full triage list, a ringing phone, or someone asking where the printer toner has gone again. They create a relaxed environment where people can wander, chat, and learn at their own pace. With multiple services in one place, patients can explore different areas of health in a single visit, often discovering support they didn’t realise was available.

These events also give us the opportunity to have confidence‑building conversations — the kind that help people understand their bodies, their symptoms, and their choices. They allow us to spot early signs of health issues, offer guidance before problems escalate, and empower people to take small steps that make a big difference. Most importantly, they strengthen the connection between our surgeries and the community we serve. When people feel comfortable approaching us, asking questions, and getting involved, prevention becomes a shared effort rather than something done in isolation.

In short, a health fair is healthcare… just without the waiting room chairs that squeak every time someone sits down.

A Final Message from Southend Coastal Surgeries

We are genuinely excited about this year’s health fair. It represents everything we believe in: prevention, partnership, community, and empowerment.

Healthcare is changing, and we want our patients to be part of that change, not left behind. By learning CPR, understanding your health, and connecting with local services, you’re helping build a safer, healthier community for everyone.

We can’t wait to welcome you. We can’t wait to teach you. And we absolutely can’t wait to see our community come together for something that truly matters.

For more information and to let us know you’re coming: https://www.southendcoastalsurgeries.co.uk/scsevent