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

It's not I don't think - when they finally manage to check it (after giving me 5 minutes to de-stress from the endless failed attempts) - it's resolutely normal!

I just wish they'd listen instead of trying to be all heroic and "I CAN DO THIS WHERE OTHERS HAVE FAILED!!!"

So the service that is provided:

Many surgeries and pharmacists have a blood pressure machine that you can go in and use for free. You do not need to make an appointment.

If you can't do that most surgeries will lend you a blood pressure monitor.

Or you can buy your own for ten pounds.

There are two completely free options there and one very cheap one.

The NHS is providing this service and it's fine.

I’m not from the UK but it’s fairly standard to have a blood pressure machine at home where I’m from, so I’ve always had one here, too.

Guys the Menopause changes has an affect on our moods/behavior and health. It's overwhelming.

OP was having a bad day and has agreed to monitor her blood pressure as per the recommendation of her health care provider.

Let's be compassionate and cut her some slack.

Because the op said she needs it done twice a day!

Did you not read it?

Low BP? I have a similar problem with BP meters and was told it is likely due to low BP.

Elsewhere in Europe very low blood pressure is taken seriously and treated, in the UK its assumed to be only good. Its also much commoner in women. Perhaps those things are related!

So what do you want?
A DN at your beck and call?
A GP visit twice a day?
How about a bit of being proactive and doing some self -care and stop relying on ‘someone else’ to do everything for you.
🙄

Take some responsibility for you own health and buy a machine. How hard can it be????

Neither of my parents have high blood pressure, but they bough a BP machine years ago to keep track in case it changed. Why? Because they take responsibility for their own health.

I bought my own.
Worth it for peace of mine.
Just like l bought a Tens machine for my pain.
An heated pad for other pain.
A weighing scale to keep an eye on my weight.
A pill dispenser to help with medication.
A walking stick to help with my osteoarthritis.
I could mention loads of other items to benefit my health.. can't see why buying a BP monitor is any different?

Are you aware people on dying in corridors/can’t see their GPs for weeks on end?!

The NHS is on its knees, stop being so entitled and go and buy a monitor.

Everyone’s blood pressure is normal until it’s not.

YABU. It's your health - be proactive! I would recommend having a set of scales, a thermometer, a BP monitor and an oximeter at home. With the growth of tele-medicine, if your GP requests measurements over the phone, you'll be able to provide the necessary information. Things aren't go to improve with the NHS any time soon, and I think we'll have to be more responsible for our health monitoring.

We have one at home. They are pretty common these days.

I'm sure if you said you couldn't afford one they'd offer to do it for you.

Yes I had this for exactly the same reason. It's not a bad idea to have one at home to periodically check anyway. Got the exact same model as my gp off amazon.

Its not unreasonable and I happily picked one up from Lidl. Unfortunately the at home machines give me a very high reading compared to the manual ones the old fashioned drs use.

Currently struggling to get an appointment to have my reading taken.

@TangoTarantella Glad you've found one that works for you.

As to bad mood - I think we could run the Grumpy Olympics here today - I think I would be in a fair chance for a medal.

Hope you get your HRT sorted out and that your BP stays low (jealous!)

I was told that I might be able to borrow one from the surgery, but it was easier just to buy one.

I'd be fucked - for some bizarre reason, the cheaper automatic ones don't work on me 90% of the time (and no one ever listens to me telling them this - so I get an increasingly painful arm and then when they DO find one that works - it's gone through the roof from the stress of it!)... when I was pregnant there was literally ONE in the entire health centre (multiple nurses' offices and GP surgeries) that worked for me. The posh hospital ones work - but any cheapo basic ones seem to nope out on me.

No - its isn't necessary to take eight readings, if the OP was seen by eg the practice nurse or associate or practice pharmacist then only one reading would be taken at the annual medication review. The point of medication reviews is to review general health on that medication (or it used to be).

Considering the horror which is the general reaction to (reclaimable) appointment fees I'm surprised that this kind of non reclaimable fee for access to a service is taken so complacently.

A BP monitor for a healthy adult is not remotely comparable to having a thermometer for a child. Cheap BP monitors vary greatly in quality as does patients' ability to use them reliably.

@DownWithThisKindOfThing
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 NHS nothing to do with the Tories

It seems to be an expectation now that you will have a monitor. I've been asked by our Practice Nurse to do blood pressure checks on myself. Fortunately I'd already got a monitor that I'd bought in Lidl. I think because they're so readily available and cheap these days the GP sees it as one of those things you can take responsibility for yourself.

Unless you can't afford £20 to buy a monitor then YABU.

Deleted as I cross-posted with everyone else that was able to find a £10 with a couple of minutes' searching.

My BP was low until I was 39.

Went into peri and it rocketed to between 140-170 every day. It's wise to keep an eye on it.

So the NHS should start handing out free BP machines to the millions of people who have elevated BP? That's an insane waste of money, even in a well-funded NHS.

Sorry OP but considering how cheap they are, I think YABU. If money is really a massive issue then you can get free checks at many pharmacies.