Services
Blood Pressure Testing Services
Page Contents
Overview
NHS & Private Blood Pressure Testing at P&S Chemist
How P&S Chemist Tests Your Blood Pressure
NHS 24-Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring Service
Blood pressure is the term used to describe the strength with which your blood pushes on the sides of your arteries as it is pumped around the inside of your body. A blood pressure test checks to see if your blood pressure is healthy, or if it is high or low.
Low blood pressure (hypotension) is not usually a problem, although it can cause dizziness and fainting in some people. High blood pressure (hypertension) very rarely has any noticeable symptoms, until it is too late because, if it is left untreated, high blood pressure can dramatically increase your risk of life-changing heart attacks and strokes.
Having this quick test is the only way to find out what your blood pressure is - and it could save your life. Around a third of adults in the United Kingdom have high blood pressure, although many do not realise. Consequently, the only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked.
At P&S Chemist, we provide a variety of ways to check your blood pressure and are always ready to help, as we firmly believe that prevention is better than cure.
NHS & Private Blood Pressure Testing at P&S Chemist
At P&S Chemist, we provide the NHS Community Pharmacy Blood Pressure Check Service, but you must meet the NHS criteria of being over the age of forty (40) and have not previously been diagnosed with hypertension (high blood pressure).
Alternatively, you can take advantage of our competitively priced private blood pressure testing services. These are accessible to everyone but are paid for by you.
Whatever option you choose, it is always good advice to have a blood pressure test if you are worried about your blood pressure at any time. Our feedback will promote healthy behaviours and suggestions based on your results. Alternatively, if your results suggest you may need ongoing care, we will refer you to your doctor.
How P&S Chemist Tests Your Blood Pressure
We have a few methods and technical devices to quickly and more importantly, accurately check your blood pressure at our pharmacy. Please see below to find the most suitable blood pressure testing method for you.
The Wellpoint LifeCheck Kiosk
This is a self-service health kiosk that can check your blood pressure quickly and accurately, with our pharmacy team at hand to guide you through using our health kiosk if you require any help. Wellpoint's LifeCheck kiosk can also gather and assess your health and well-being data from many different tests and health checks it is able to perform, for more details about the Wellpoint health kiosk, click here.
Blood Pressure Testing Services
This is the more traditional blood pressure testing service that many people have experienced and are aware of. Where a blood pressure cuff is placed on your upper arm and a meter reading is then provided. Our feedback is based on your results whilst promoting healthy behaviours and health suggestions for further potential improvements, or refer you to your doctor for closer monitoring or ongoing care if necessary.
This service is provided by the NHS if you are over the age of forty (40) and have not been diagnosed with hypertension before. If you do not meet the NHS criteria, P&S Chemist provides this blood pressure test as a private service.
NHS 24-Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring Service
This service provided by P&S Chemist requires a referral from your doctor and is used to measure and record your blood pressure over a 24-hour period during your normal daily routine. It can be used to diagnose conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension), and white coat hypertension, this is when high blood pressure readings are caused by being in a clinical environment, such as a doctor's surgery or hospital. It can also be used to assess the use of medication for blood pressure control.
Once you have your appointment arranged through your doctor's surgery. You will need to come to P&S Chemist to have your blood pressure monitor fitted. Our advice would be to wear something with loose sleeves so that we can put a blood pressure cuff on your upper arm. The monitor itself will be attached to a belt around your waist. If possible, please wear your own belt. If you do not have one, we can provide one for you, but these are extremely limited in number.
Page last reviewed: 15/08/2022
Next review date: 15/08/2024