Community health nurses Virginia Samson and Jacky Barbour, of Dundee Healthy Living Initiative, have been welcomed by publicans and patrons and offered a quiet corner or private side-room to offer a confidential service of health checks and health advice.

But far from preaching, they are taking a softly, softly approach that appears to be paying dividends with undiagnosed health problems, such as high blood pressure, being picked up in the pubs. Regulars are also making small changes that are having big benefits for health.

“When we go in people are usually sitting with a pint and a fag,” said Virginia. “We are not expecting them to stop totally. Going in and laying down the law to them would not work.”

She said the social benefits of visiting the pub were important and people went there to meet their friends. What the community nurses were trying to get across was that visiting the pub was fine, but regulars might consider replacing their pint with a fresh orange or other non-alcoholic drink.

“We are just trying to highlight the benefits of giving up smoking, reducing intake of alcohol and eating a more healthy diet.”

Virginia said she and her colleague also tried to encourage people to involve themselves in physical activity, and, from one pub, there had been a request to set up a men’s walking group.

She said pub visits were done with the co-operation of publicans and regulars.

“We are usually allocated a nice corner or a side-room where it is confidential,” said Virginia. “We don’t discuss people’s problems in front of everybody. People open up a lot more when they know it’s confidential.”

Some pub patrons have been referred to their doctor for follow-up treatment after chatting to the nurses. They undertake blood- pressure checks, weigh people and perform other health checks in the pub.

“We have picked up undiagnosed high blood pressure and issues with smoking and diet. We are going out to the people rather than waiting for them to come to us. People have been really receptive.”