Introduction
Sending patients home with blood pressure recorders in
position is common practice in a hospital. It gives a much
better idea of what is happening with your blood pressure
during your day-to-day activity, than when recording it
during a visit to the doctor at the hospital.
Please bring a list of your medication including dosage
with you.
The Test
You will come to the department on the day of the test and
will check in at reception and be shown where to wait. The
Physiologist will introduce herself to you and take you into
the room where the test is to be performed. She will ask
you to take all your clothing off above the waist, excluding
any underwear and to sit. She will place a cuff around your
arm and attach it to the recorder. The recorder works
automatically and will take your blood pressure in the same
way as the doctor does, by tightening the cuff and slowly
releasing it. It will do this every 30 minutes during the day
and every hour at night.
You may be given a diary card. You should record any
symptoms you have, the time you had them (including
whether it is am or pm) and what you were doing at the
tame you had the symptoms. This is helpful when playing
through the recording to compare your symptoms with what
your blood pressure is actually doing.
You will also be asked to record when you go to bed, when
you get up and what medication you are taking and when.
You will then be told you can go home. The initial visit
takes approximately 15 minutes, and you must return at
09:00 / 13:00 the following day to have the recorder
removed, a visit lasting approximately five minutes.
For those patients who come by ambulance it may be
possible for the ambulance driver to pick up the recorder
from your home so that you do not have to come in
yourself. If you would like this to happen, either yourself or
a relative must remove the recorder and the Physiologist
will explain how this should be done.
Should you have any worries about the procedure the
Physiologist will be only too pleased to discuss them with
you.
After The Test
The recording will be played through and a report sent to
the doctor who requested the test.
Complications
There are no known risks with this investigation. However,
some people do not like the feeling of the cuff tightening on
their arm. This is nothing to worry about but if it becomes a
problem, please contact the department for advice.
Cancellations
We have many patients waiting for these examinations. If
you cannot keep your appointment it is very important that
you let us know, so that another person can be offered that
slot. Please phone us on 0161 746 2352. We try our best
to make your stay as short and as comfortable as possible.
IMPORTANT
IF YOU ARE BOOKING TRANSPORT WITH YOUR GP,
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU BOOK IT FOR THE DAY
AFTER YOUR APPOINTMENT AS WELL SO THAT YOU
CAN RETURN THE MONITOR.
Comments
We are always trying to improve the service to our patients.
If you have any comments or suggestions at any time
during your visit, or after you have left the department we
will be delighted to discuss them with you.
Trafford Healthcare NHS Trust has a no smoking policy
How to get there
The hospital is situated on Moorside Road in Davyhulme.
Parking is available at the front of the hospital, and is free of
charge for 3 hours. You may find it more convenient to use
the parking at the rear of the hospital, by driving via
Moorside Road , past the staff car park barrier to the car
park at Pathology. You may also use the pick up and drop
off point at the endoscopy unit on the right as you go past
the staff car park barrier. You will find the department first
on the left as you enter the main hospital through this door.
Please note: vehicles found illegally parked within the
hospital ground are wheel clamped and are subject to a
release fee.
Several buses serve the hospital. For up to date information
on bus routes serving the hospital contact Greater
Manchester Transport Executive on 0161 228 7811.
CARDIO-RESPIRATORY
INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
24 HOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
RECORDING
Patient Information Leaflet