Self measurement-self management -calling all patient's
with hypertension!
We are now offering a number of choices in the way that you can measure and
manage your blood pressure
1. Have your blood pressure taken by a member of the nursing team - the currently
offered option.
2. Take your own blood pressure with a machine we have placed in a booth in the
waiting room at the Surgery. This requires you to have a bare arm and does not
require you to put on a cuff yourself. You can then write down the reading on the
blood pressure record slip at the end of this letter and ask the Receptionist to put
the reading on your record.
3. Purchase your own blood pressure machine and take measurements at home
and share the reading with us by completing the Update your Clinical
Record form on the practice website below or by handing in the blood pressure
record slip at the end of this letter to our Reception Team at the surgery.
4. Borrow a blood pressure machine from the surgery for a week by asking our
Reception Team
Click
Purchasing a Blood Pressure Machine
Home measurement with an accurate Blood Pressure machine can be very
worthwhile; it can give you more understanding of your blood pressure and be
reassuring. Many patients also find that their readings are lower at home than in the
surgery.
In general an upper arm monitor can give you a more accurate reading and all of the
research studies on blood pressure have been done with measurements from the
upper arm. Several wrist monitors have now been validated as accurate by the
British Hypertension Society and have been added to their approved list (see below)
A range of blood pressure machines that are of a good quality (validated by the
British Hypertension Society) can be seen at
http://www.bhsoc.org/bp-monitors/bp-monitors
We recommend that if you choose to purchase a blood pressure monitor for use at
home, you choose one that is validated by the British Hypertension Society.
We would like you to check your blood pressure using the waiting room blood
pressure machine when you are waiting for an appointment. All Blood Pressure
machines, including the one in the waiting room are tested and calibrated annually.
Arrive for your appointment 5 minutes early to do this.