The simplest way of determining if the patient might be in AF is by checking the pulse. In community pharmacy this might be done, for example, when undertaking blood pressure checks, as part of a commissioned NHS Health Check programme or perhaps an AF screening programme. 

If pharmacy staff are not familiar with how to check a pulse, or confident to take a patient’s pulse, the British Heart Foundation has useful information and a video entitled ‘How to Check Your Pulse’. 

If the pulse is found to be irregular, the patient could have AF even if they do not have any symptoms. The patient should be referred, depending on the local pathway, for a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) to confirm the diagnosis.