Pharmacies will offer NHS blood pressure checks to the over-40s to cut number of people suffering strokes in deal that could save thousands of lives
Pharmacists will save thousands of lives and help prevent heart attacks and strokes by offering free NHS blood pressure checks.
The high street chemists will offer the life-saving readings to people aged 40 and over from October, under a new NHS contract.
Health bosses say the deal could prevent 2,500 heart attacks and 3,700 strokes, and save 2,000 lives over the next five years.
They believe 2.5million people could take up the offer of a check, with 250,000 being told they need treatment for high blood pressure, or hypertension.
Failing to treat the condition, through lifestyle changes or medication, can leave patients at increased risk of potentially fatal cardiovascular disease.
The checks will be available at more than 11,300 pharmacies that dispense NHS prescriptions, including Boots and Lloyds.
The high street chemists will offer the life-saving readings to people aged 40 and over from October, under a new NHS contract (file photo)
The NHS will pay pharmacists up to £45 for each reading they take, with results sent to patients' GPs for review.
Dr Shahed Ahmad, national clinical director for cardiovascular disease prevention at NHS England, said: 'Cardiovascular disease claims 136,000 lives a year and is a major cause of health inequalities with about half of heart attacks and strokes associated with high blood pressure.
'The detection and control of high blood pressure is one of the best things we can do to save lives and reduce health inequalities. Community pharmacists are ideally placed to deliver this life-saving work and I am delighted they are now offering blood pressure checks.'
The NHS began piloting the pharmacy check-ups in autumn 2019 but will now rollout the scheme nationwide.
Pharmacists will seek to identify patients who may have high blood pressure, conduct the checks, offer lifestyle advice and refer them to a GP where necessary.
Some may be offered ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, where they are fitted with a device that checks their pressure as they go about their normal life over a 24 or 48-hour period.
It is thought to reduce 'white coat syndrome', where anxiety caused by seeing a health professional can cause blood pressure to rise and give a misleadingly high reading.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: 'More high street heart checks for blood pressure will mean more rapid detection of killer conditions and quicker treatment for patients who need it.
Pharmacists will seek to identify patients who may have high blood pressure, conduct the checks, offer lifestyle advice and refer them to a GP where necessary (Pictured: UK pharmacy)
'Pharmacies are in the heart of communities and so they are ideally placed to provide these convenient checks so if you are worried about your health, please do get tested – it could save your life.'
Health minister Lord Bethell thanked pharmacists for the work they have done during the pandemic and their commitment for 'helping support a healthy nation'.
He added: 'These new blood pressure clinics are just one example of the vital, life-saving check-ups pharmacies provide.'
Pharmacies will also play a greater role in NHS quit smoking services, by offering support to smokers after discharge from hospital.
Charlotte Nicholls, of the Stroke Association charity, said: 'We welcome the rollout of these checks in pharmacies, which will make it easier for people to get checked locally.'