New blood pressure checks

A NEW initiative aims to help identify undiagnosed cardiovascular disease by offering b lood pressure checks.

LloydsPharmacy has teamed up with the NHS to launch the service, aimed at spotting hypertension in people aged 40 or over.

High blood pressure can increase risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease, and it’s thought a third of adults experience it.

The service offers support in two stages – the first being to identify people at risk of hypertension and offering them a blood pressure (BP) check in store where a pharmacist will provide advice or referral as well.

The second stage is offering patients a British and Irish Hypertension Society (BIHS) recommended, Schiller BR102Plus Ambulatory BP monitor, to take home for a 24-hour monitoring period.

Aimee Mulhern, NHS

Services Manager, said: “As cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes a quarter of all deaths in the UK, early detection and treatment is crucial.

“With too many people living with high-risk conditions such as high blood pressure undetected, we are proud to be able to offer our new Advanced Blood Pressure Testing Service in store, making detection and support more accessible.

“CVD is the single biggest area where the NHS can save lives over the next 10 years, and with the disease being largely preventable through changes to lifestyle and healthcare, our pharmacists are able to offer advice and access to both stages of the service.”

It’s possible to book the service through branches in Calcot, Crowthorne and Winnersh, among others.