Pharmacy blood pressure service check finder tool launched
30 OCTOBER 2023 ADMIN NHS ENGLAND
NHS.uk has launched this new tool to support healthcare professionals and patients find their nearest pharmacy. Now would be a good time of year to share this service giving plenty of time to support patients to manage their hypertension before the end of the year.
As a practice, knowing your local pharmacies that offer the service will support your care navigation team and allow you to have a conversation with them about the appropriate referral of these patients back to the practice.
A new service finder on NHS.uk allows healthcare professionals and patients to search for and find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks. The tool explains who is eligible to go to a pharmacy to get their blood pressure checked and can be searched using a postcode, with the nearest pharmacy listed first. Blood pressure conditions pages on NHS.UK have also been updated to signpost to the blood pressure pharmacy finder.
Who can get a free blood pressure check
You can get a free blood pressure check if you:
- are aged 40 or over
- live in England
You cannot get a free blood pressure check if:
- you already have high blood pressure
- a doctor, nurse or pharmacist has checked your blood pressure in the past 6 months
What happens when you get your blood pressure check
A pharmacist will wrap a blood pressure cuff around your upper arm to measure your blood pressure. They will then share the result with you.
Depending on the result, they might:
- give you healthy living advice
- give you a blood pressure monitor to take home with you and return with later
- advise you to see a GP
If you’re registered with a GP surgery, the pharmacist will share your results with them.