GP patients told: Bring your own batteries for blood pressure check!
FAMILY doctors have asked patients to bring their own AA batteries when they have their blood pressure or heart checked.
Marden Medical Centre in Kent texted the request – even specifying a favoured brand – in a bid to cut costs and be greener.
The message read: “This is a reminder of your appointment which is booked.
“If you have booked a 24hr Blood Pressure or 24hr ECG appointment only, please bring two AA Duracell batteries for the machine.”
It costs around £4 for a pack of four Duracell AA batteries.
Convenient
A spokesman at the medical centre, near Maidstone, said: “Our 24-hour electrocardiogram (ECG) recording machine is an additional service we provide, having been donated by fundraising efforts of the Friends of Marden Medical Centre.
“It is a convenient alternative to going to hospital for the check.
“It requires fresh batteries every time it is used to make sure it works properly.
“Providing new batteries each time would be costly and create wastage, and we found rechargeable batteries were not effective.
“This policy is in line with our drive to support sustainability and a greener NHS as patients can continue to use the batteries they provide at home afterwards.”
The GP centre was rated “outstanding” overall by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission after a visit in 2019. In three out of five categories – safe, effective and responsive – it was judged “good” overall, while in the remaining two – caring and wellled – it was rated “outstanding”.
In 2022, the British Medical Association gave guidance on GP charges to patients.
It included certificates, including a private sick note for employers, a certificate for insurance purposes or a freedom from infection certificate which can be used for school, travel or employment.
Taking extracts from records or providing health reports can also be billed – but there is no mention of batteries.
The request for patients to dip into their own pockets comes as prescription prices are set to go up by another 25p an item.
On May 1, the cost goes from £9.65 to £9.90.
A three-month pre-paid certificate hits £32.08 from £31.25, while a year of prescriptions will be £114.50, up from £111.60.
An HRT pre-paid certificate which lasts a year will also cost more, going from £19.30 to £19.80.