The community pharmacy's role

Community pharmacy can offer a blood pressure monitoring service for undiagnosed people and, where commissioned, the advanced case finding service with ABPM. Understanding your local need may help target services to those who may benefit the most. 

Ideally, any blood pressure readings taken – even if normal – should be communicated (with the person’s permission) to the GP for documentation into the clinical record. An agreed method for this communication should be in place with the GP practice. 

It is also important to consider how you would communicate with a person whose blood pressure is found to be high, delivering both the correct lifestyle messages and discussing whether referral to the GP is needed, and what this may involve.