The benefit of blood pressure checks
More than 60 opticians in our area are currently offering blood pressure checks as part of their eye test assessments as part of a successful pilot scheme.
It aims to address hypertension - a condition affecting an estimated 31% of adults in North Yorkshire. In Humber and North Yorkshire an estimated 145,000 people are thought to have undiagnosed hypertension.
The current pilot is now set to be expanded, with additional NHS England funding being provided to NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board which is delivering the initiative.
How is the blood pressure scheme helping people?
Most people made lifestyle changes because of their blood pressure reading and nearly half of patients tested reported they would not have had their blood pressure checked otherwise.
People have said they are satisfied with having their blood pressure taken within an optical setting and happy to be referred on to other services when required.
Most people referred onward by opticians during the pilot were seen in community pharmacies, with small numbers being seen by GPs and urgent care services. One patient from North Yorkshire was referred to A&E the same day for the blood pressure to be managed as an emergency where she was prescribed medication.
Katherine Friis, optometrist director at Specsavers Ripon, added:
“I decided to take Alex’s blood pressure and found it to be dangerously high at 190/120. We had just completed training to offer blood pressure measuring in the community. I immediately referred her to A&E the same day for the blood pressure to be managed as an emergency where she was prescribed medication.”
Why having blood pressure taken is important
High blood pressure (hypertension) can increase your risk of developing serious problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, if it's not treated. Having this quick test is the only way to find out what your blood pressure is – and it could save your life.
Read more from the NHS about blood pressure tests
Nizz Sabir, one of the participating primary care optical practices and clinical lead for optometry (examining the eyes for defects and diseases, and providing vision care) in the local NHS, said:
“The hypertension service allows us to help deliver first contact care to the public and reduce cardiovascular disease risk through early intervention.
"Working as a team with other healthcare colleagues in pharmacy and general practice, means that we can improve access and become more efficient in helping support those people who would otherwise not have known they are at risk of hypertension and thereby cardiovascular disease.”
Improving the offering with blood pressure checks
Opticians are sharing what they are learning with NHS colleagues as part of the wider NHS England pilot to offer even more patients the convenience of getting a blood pressure check during an eye test.
Given the success of the pilot and the additional funding available, expansion of blood pressure checks into dental practices is being explored for 2025.
