Free Blood Pressure Check in Cambridge

Milton Road Pharmacy offers a variety of NHS services including dispensing of medicines, repeat dispensing, flu vaccination service ant other.  We offer a free blood pressure check in Cambridge.

What is high blood pressure?

Blood pressure tells us how much blood is pumped by the heart and how difficult (or easy) is for the blood to flow in blood vessels (what is the resistance). Based on this process, hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure tells us generally that the heart pumps more blood, and the resistance for blood flow is higher, for example, due to narrowing of the blood vessels.

The blood pressure reading is represented by two figures as seen in the photo below:

• systolic blood pressure: the pressure of the blood when the heart contracts
• diastolic blood pressure: the pressure of the blood  when the heart relaxes

What is ‘normal’ blood pressure?

Blood pressure differs between individuals. Ideal blood pressure should be 120/80 mmHg or less.

Conversely, people who get reading for their blood pressure 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg may be at risk of developing high blood pressure.

People with a blood pressure of 140/90mmHg or over are considered to have high blood pressure. For people over 80 years of age, this reading is 150/90mmHg or higher.

Why do we offer free blood pressure in Cambridge?

Unlike many other conditions, blood pressure may not produce any symptoms. However, with time high blood pressure can contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases including strokes and heart attacks. Pharmacies, including Milton Road Pharmacy, are in an ideal position to offer patients opportunistic blood pressure checks.

Who is the service aimed at?

We offer free blood pressure to any member of the public. Please read the next paragraph.

Blood pressure check in Cambridge becomes NHS advance service

Milton Road Pharmacy offers free blood pressure tests as a part of NHS advance service. In simple terms, our free blood pressure service is commissioned by NHS to eligible patients.

The aim of NHS community pharmacy hypertension service is to identify people aged 40 years or older (who have never been diagnosed with hypertension) with high blood pressure and if necessary refer them to GP to confirm the diagnosis and start management of the condition.

How does hypertension service work?

In a nutshell, our hypertension service consists of the following stages:

• stage one: measurement of blood pressure with a standard blood pressure monitor.
• stage two: patients who may have high blood pressure based on initial readings (140/90mmHg or higher), will be offered 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). ABPM involves measuring blood pressure at regular intervals over 24 hours as patients get on with their daily life. Patients wear a small blood pressure monitor which is connected to a cuff located at the arm.
• ABPM will be offered to patients with blood pressure higher than 140/90mmHg but below 180/120mmHg. ABPM will be provided by Milton Road Pharmacy to use over 24 hour period (loan agreement) on the same day (subject to availability) or when convenient to the patient.
• A follow-up appointment is necessary to discuss the results of ABPM.
• Patients with an 24-hour average blood pressure of 135/85mmHg or higher but lower than
  150/95mmH will be referred to see their GP.

Who will be eligible for NHS blood pressure service?

NHS set specific requirements for patient participation in hypertension service. We will still offer a free blood pressure check, however, individuals who do not fall into the criteria listed below, will not be offered 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

People who want to use NHS blood pressure service must be:

• 40 years of age or above with the exception of individuals who have a family history of hypertension. Patients with familial hypertension who will qualify for the service, even when younger than 40 years of age.
• have not been diagnosed with high blood pressure previously.
• have not had blood pressure checked in the last 6 months by a healthcare professional.
• walk into the pharmacy and ask for the service or must be offered the service by a member of a pharmacy team.

How to book free blood pressure check in Milton Road Pharmacy?

The easiest and more convenient way of booking BP check is through our booking page. We also provide blood pressure tests to walk-in customers, however during busy times, for example during flu jab season, customers may need to wait for the pharmacist and consultation room availability.

Blood pressure check: your appointment

During your visit to Milton Road Pharmacy, the pharmacist or a trained member of staff will measure your blood pressure twice and give you the average reading provided with the reference information for normal, high and very high blood pressure.

Blood pressure check service is subject to a trained pharmacist being present at the premises.

Where are we located?

We are located at 123 Milton Road, Cambridge, Cb41XE.