Hypertension Case Finding Service
The Hypertension Case Finding Service is an advanced service whereby pharmacies offer blood pressure checks to people 40 years and over and in some pharmacies, where the patients initial blood pressure was elevated, they would be offered a 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).
This service was commissioned following the initial findings of a pilot involving pharmacies offering blood pressure checks to people 40 years and over. In public-facing communications, the service is described as the NHS Blood Pressure Check Service.
From 1st December 2023, the service can be provided by suitably trained and competent pharmacy staff; previously, only pharmacists and pharmacy technicians could provide the service.
The service aims to:
- Identify people aged 40 years or older, or at the discretion of pharmacy staff, people under the age of 40, with high blood pressure (who have previously not had a confirmed diagnosis of hypertension), and to refer them to general practice to confirm diagnosis and for appropriate management;
- At the request of a general practice, undertake ad hoc clinic and ambulatory blood pressure measurements. These requests can be in relation to people either with or without a diagnosis of hypertension; and
- Provide another opportunity to promote healthy behaviours to patients.
