To think we shouldn’t have to buy our own blood pressure machines

Buy one. I have two, one wrist and one arm. It is not a big expense.

Surely the price of a BP machine is worth it to continue on HRT?? Something that might come in useful in future.

You might not want it, but you need it. Just buy it, fgs.

it is better to do your blood pressure in your own home
i was lent one initially but advised to buy my own,
i have never used it, although i should test myself once a month

We bought one 20 odd years ago and still use it regularly to keep track. Put the readings in our phones and we get a guide as to whether BP is rising or falling. White coat syndrome can lead to higher readings taken by docs so it is useful to DIY. A £20 machine may not be as accurate as a docs, but used regularly will give an indication. The NHS has made us think that none of us should spend money on our health, yet we would think nothing on spending £20 on a fat laden delivery of takeaway food. That £20 could result in you getting an early indication of serious health issues, so go and buy one, and use it regularly.

As you get older, you need to invest more in your health, both in time and money. Equipping yourself with basic kit is part of taking responsibility for that.

Many people won't take responsibility for their own health. I understand if it's something they can't afford, but many people happy to buy coffee and Netflix and whinge about buying cheap equipment to monitor health.

If every household had a BP machine, thermometer and a set of weighing scales it would definitely help the NHS. As a HCP knowing these measurements for a lot of my patients helps me assess some basic conditions fairly accurately over the phone and I can triage the patients who need a face to face appointment

Yes, I had to buy one for home.

I can’t remember how much it was. There’s a big range on Amazon.

it felt weird at first but after my TIA I am much more interested in things like blood pressure

It's called White Coat syndrome , well known . It's nerves that set it off , many people have it in the surgery .

Yep mine is aways so much lower at home too. It bothers me when the hcp carries on chatting to you when taking a reading. You're meant to be sat down/quiet!

I measure my blood pressure at home because it's convenient (I'm near housebound) but more importantly I get consistently lower readings in the relaxed environment of my home than being hassled about in a busy surgery where they don't have time to let me fully relax before they measure my blood pressure.

Also, if you have hypertension, don't you want to check blood pressure regularly without GP reminders?

Why bloody Tories? why such a trivial thing should be funded by taxpayers? it's £20 top Amazon/Argos/everywhere

Low BP can be just as dangerous. The blood isn't pumping around your body as efficiently as it should. It can cause fainting. DD BP was low in hospital once. They got her to drink lots of water and cups of tea before discharged.

Same. A £10-£20 machine could save your life!

Same here.

YABVU - You want HRT you need to be responsible for your blood pressure readings.

My BP was low for years, until it wasn't. And I felt totally fine. Had no idea it was so high. We should all be checking BP regularly, as a precaution

@TangoTarantella

No I suppose just some joined up thinking. For the last 3 years a single BP reading has been enough. Nothing has changed. I don’t have BP problems, if I did then I wouldn’t mind buying a cheap monitor.

I still think it’s unreasonable to expect me to buy a monitor when it’s of no use to me (and the results are probably of no use to them either). There’s just been no thought put into it.

And, of course, the only way to really know that you don't have bp problems is to check it on a regular/semi regular basis. That's what huge numbers of people are doing all the time. So much better than sleep walking into a problem.

Then you and everyone else needs to pay way way more to fund it properly.
Post online locally see if someone would lend you a bp machine for a week.

Thanks to all the helpful and positive posters on this thread. I didn’t expect 8 appointments or to be given a BP machine. I was just surprised that it’s an expectation that people have these things as standard at home, with no question or alternative options put forward. Anyway, I’ve bought a monitor and am bowing out now. There are some very angry people on here, I wonder if you all work for the NHS.

Hopefully the op has indeed bowed out, else the continued comments from people who haven't RTFT or even her posts would probably raise her BP!

If you think it’s pointless just make a set of readings up. 🤷‍♀️.

Or if you think that’s poor advice spend £18 or if that’s too much go to a chemist twice a day for 4 days, they will do BP readings for free so that’s your good NHS service.

This. I'm very grateful for the NHS but I've never thought that it takes away all my personal responsibility to look after my own health as far as possible

I find it quite strange that people don't automatically have the basics around. BP machine, good quality thermometer, stethoscope, pulse ox reader and extensive first aid supplies. Why would the government pay for basic home health supplies?
Maybe it's just more common on this side of the pond to be stocked for emergencies and self-awareness med supplies.

Edited to add: It seems the vast majority do feel the need to have some of these supplies. On both sides of the pond. Thank goodness!