NHS Blood Pressure Check Service
Why get your blood pressure checked?
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a condition which can be controlled to reduce your risk of a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular disease.
In the UK there are about five million adults (one in every nine) who have high blood pressure without even knowing it, since high blood pressure itself rarely causes symptoms.
The British Heart Foundation estimates that high blood pressure causes over 50% of heart attacks and strokes.
What does the service involve?
Pharmacies are offering free NHS blood pressure checks to people aged 40 and over.
You will speak with a member of pharmacy staff in a private consultation room where a blood pressure cuff will be put on your upper arm to measure your blood pressure.
Following this, you will be provided with advice about healthy living.
If your blood pressure reading is high, you will be offered the chance to take home a blood pressure monitor that measures your blood pressure as you go about your daily life, returning to the pharmacy later to get the results of the measurements.
Depending on your blood pressure reading, you may be referred to your GP surgery. The pharmacy staff will guide you through any steps depending on your blood pressure result.
How do I get this service?
You can walk in and speak to the pharmacy team about the service or phone the pharmacy to ask about the service.
You may be asked to book an appointment or it may be possible to just turn up and have a consultation with a member of the pharmacy team.
Your choice of pharmacy
You have the right to choose to use any pharmacy that provides the service.
Many pharmacies offer the NHS Blood Pressure Check Service. Use the NHS website tool for finding a pharmacy that provides the NHS Blood Pressure Check Service.
Your choice of a pharmacy should not be influenced or limited by websites or apps, emails or letters you receive in the post, or by any doctor, pharmacist or other healthcare professional.
If you have a concern about using your right to choose a pharmacy, you can contact your local NHS management organisation (which is called the integrated care board) for help with this.