More pharmacies in England will start to offer people free heart check ups on the stop starting next month. People will have their blood pressure and cholesterol tested.
The program is aimed to prevent up to 150,000 heart attacks and strokes within a decade. It is part of the government’s plan to do more for the community and to give less pressure for hospitals and GPs.
It will be funded as part of the £13bn five-year contract for community pharmacies.
England’s most senior doctor, NHS national medical director Prof Stephen Powis, said: “Heart disease and strokes dramatically cut short lives, and leave thousands of people disabled every year, so rapid detection of killer conditions through High Street heart checks will be a game-changer.”
Simon Gillespie, from the British Heart Foundation, said: “Millions of people in England are living with conditions such as high blood pressure which, if left untreated, significantly increase the risk of having a potentially deadly heart attack or stroke.
“Reaching more people and encouraging them to check their blood pressure, working with them to lower it where necessary, will play an absolutely critical role in saving lives in the coming years.
“Giving a greater role to community pharmacists in helping increase early detection of heart and circulatory diseases is a very welcome move that will help the NHS deliver its Long Term Plan commitment to prevent 100,000 heart attacks and strokes over the next 10 years.
“Once people are diagnosed with high blood pressure, raised cholesterol or atrial fibrillation, they can then be supported to manage their condition, which will reduce their risk of heart attack or stroke, and ultimately could save their life.”
From October their will be over 350 community pharmacies across England will begin to do the test. People aged between 40 and 74 who live in England are already are invited for free five-yearly health checks at some chemist shops as well as GP surgeries to spot early signs of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, kidney problems or dementia.
