Missing millions

NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have launched a new multimedia campaign urging the public to visit their local pharmacy to have their blood pressure checked, as survey findings indicate fewer than half are aware of the service.

The ‘Get Your Blood Pressure Checked’ campaign aims to find the “missing millions” with undiagnosed high blood pressure, the two bodies said, with an estimated 4.2 million people currently unaware that they have the condition.

A survey of 2,109 adults aged 40 and over that was carried out ahead of the campaign found that just seven per cent of respondents were aware that most cases of high blood pressure are asymptomatic, while 44 per cent did not know they could get a free blood pressure check at a pharmacy and 59 per cent did not know that no appointment is needed.