Hypertension Case-Finding Service
The NHS commissioned a new advanced service, the Hypertension Case-Finding Service, on 1st October 2021, where community pharmacies offer FREE opportunistic blood pressure checks to people 40 years and older or those referred for monitoring by a GP practice.
The Hypertension Case Finding Service is an NHS Advanced service currently available through certain community pharmacies, with more local pharmacies signing up and directly engaging with their patients.
Hypertension is the biggest risk factor for CVD and is one of the top five risk factors for all premature death and disability in England. Hypertension is also identified in the CORE20PLUS5 as 1 of 5 clinical areas of focus for the NHS to support the reduction of health inequalities.
The updated sevice specification for the Hypertension Case-Finding Service is available. This follows the November 2023 announcement made around the service being relaunched to make better use of skill mix and increase provision of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).
From 1st December 2023, suitably trained and competent pharmacy staff (pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and other non-registered members of the pharmacy team) can provide the service; currently it can only be provided by a pharmacist or pharmacy technician.
Pharmacies can register for the service via the ‘Manage Your Service’ platform. Contractors should also update their NHS Profile Manager profile to show you are offering the service so they are visible in the new NHS Find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks tool.
Click on the link to book onto the webinar:
Hypertension Case-Finding Service
Wednesday 3rd January 2024, 7-8.30pm
A PharmOutcomes training video can also be viewed here.
Full information on the service can be found here.
The specification requires the community pharmacy to notify the local GP practices that they are providing the service and to report the results to the patient’s registered GP practice in line with service requirements.
If your pharmacy is planning to or is already signed up for the service, please ensure you are ready to provide and a conversation occurs with local GP surgeries to explain the service and when the pharmacy is live.
GP’s can refer any patients into the service so it is imperative that pharmacies and GPs discuss how the referral process will work.
If you wish to discuss the service in more detail please contact info@suffolklpc.org.uk.
