HEALTH trust chairman Dr Albert Day has proved he is cool under pressure - by checking his stress levels when organising an event for the public.

The Harrogate Health Care Trust will be holding an exhibition to gives everyone a glimpse of life behind the scenes on wards and operating theatres at the town's district hospital.

Staff will be on hand to answer questions and to explain their role at the event at St Aidan's School, Oatlands Drive, Harrogate, on Thursday from 7.30pm.

A host of hands-on activities will also give visitors the chance to try some of the skills required from hospital staff and some of the equipment they use - including a machine which can measure levels of stress.

"The device works by monitoring the heat of your skin,'' said occupational health manager, Heather Singleton.

"When people are under pressure, their body produces more adrenalin which in turn reduces the blood flow to the hands, causing a change in skin temperature.

"We can then analyse those results and make an assessment of the level of stress a person may be under at that time."