Prince William believes offering men a ‘free pint’ would encourage them to undergo health checks.
The Duke of Cambridge offered the semi-serious suggestion when he heard how men sometimes dismiss changes in their bodies until it’s too late for the issue to be addressed as he visited the Man Van – a mobile clinic offering free checkups for men – at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Tuesday (24.05.22).
William asked what the symptoms of prostate cancer were after admitting he didn’t know.
When told that changes in toilet habits were one of them, he said, “It’s tricky when it’s so subtle.”
He then told advanced nurse practitioner Fionnuala McCarthy: “I have an idea that could go very badly but could be good enough – you could offer a free pint.
“I think guys having a pint while you do your blood test, that would be a great way to do it.”
Fionnuala’s colleague, Dr Masood Moghul, suggested they might consider funding a coffee machine.
William replied, “You’re going to have to use a little imagination to get guys here. That’s the kind of thing they’ll do if there’s something fun going with it, not too serious.”
The van visits workplaces and community centers such as churches and medical centers, with a particular focus on black men who have about twice the risk of developing prostate cancer and those of working age.
The van offers checks, including blood pressure tests and a blood test to check prostate-specific antigen levels.
During his visit to the hospital – of which he is the patron – William also observed a state-of-the-art procedure used to treat cancer patients.
A post on its official Instagram account read: “Royal Marsden’s life-saving treatment and research is improving cancer outcomes for people across the country. Through the use of robot-guided procedures, they provide faster treatment, more precise and therefore more efficient.
Comments are closed.