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

I think it’s worst that asthmatics have to buy their own inhalers when they keep them alive compared (I’m not asthmatic but I do have diabetes and this fully shocked me) most other things we should have to pay for like people who get paracetamol on prescription for example. This one I think we should have to buy our own as there is free options such as in boots and Asda near me bathroom which contain a blood pressure machine x

I only have to supply one reading, which I get done at a local pharmacy. Eight over four consecutive days seems over the top.

Exactly this. Most people don't realise that walking frames and toilet frames have a life expectancy of about 2 years after which the pins that adjust the height can fail die to metal fatigue or corrosion.
They cost about £15 to buy in bulk, it would cost the NHS a lot more if they are sued for issuing faulty second hand equipment.

That's crazy! Our chemist and sugery have one with print outs. I would ring around to find one, them drop off the print outs at the surgery. If not explain you cannot afford to buy one, and need nurse appointments.

Nurse here. You see TangoTarantella, lots of GPs used to provide these machines but delightful people took it upon themselves not to return them, therefore making it crap for everyone else. Buying more and more in this instance would be a waste of already stretched resources would it not??? Wanting the NHS to provide a proper service nowadays on the absolute piss take budget they have to work with is the equivalent of expecting pigs to fly.

You could try telling them you can't afford it and do they have a small one you could borrow and then never give it back. After all the NHS can afford to dish out this kind of kit.

How do you expect the NHS to fund every single thing. People also expect to have moisturising creams and paracetamol for free too.
The NHS is broke. Take responsibility for yourself.
You should be checking your own blood pressure anyway. High blood pressure is called the silent killer for a reason.

I kept my immune-suppressed elderly mother out of hospital when she had Covid because she had BP monitor, oxymeter and thermometer at home.

I'm sorry, this boils my blood.
You mean, you want everyone else to pay for your basic medical equipment.
Be grateful we are funding your HRT, if you were paying for that it would run into thousands.

It's the same with those who demand free paracetamol, it's bloody 50p in any supermarket but it costs the NHS about £9 to process your request.

They don't cost much to buy. I was advised to buy an oxygen saturation monitor for DD. Best £25 I spent. It has ment I have avoided ringing an ambulance a number of times.

This doesn’t surprise me. I had preeclampsia with my DD and was rehospitalised a few days after birth due to still having high BP and my reflexes weren’t normal. After being discharged to my GP on medication, I was told by the consultant that I needed to contact them about having my BP checked regularly, getting more meds prescribed etc. Firstly, it took a few days to actually get a GP appointment, which was a telephone appointment, even though I requested a face to face so they could check my BP, but they point blank refused! Then on the phone the GP said just buy a BP monitor and if it goes above this then ring us. When the midwife came out to do another check she was livid!

No wonder the NHS is on it's knees.

Alternatively,do what other people do and lie.

Get your BP taken properly in the surgery reception area. Then just supply those figures +/- 1 for subsequent days readings.

That is no different to you having one reading taken every 6 months.

At home we have
-thermometer
-BP machine
-pulse oximeter
-blood glucose monitor
-blood ketone meter
-urine testing strips
-peak flow meter

It makes sense to have certain things as can really help to work out what / if medical help is needed

You’ll get more accurate readings at home.
They are not expensive and every house should have one if you’re middle-aged plus, which presumably you are, and you can afford it.

It’s interesting g that when I saw my GP for my medication review, which was just HRT, she took my blood pressure. And never any of this taking it at home. Now the pharmacist does the review and they want 4 days worth. If I didn’t have a machine I could see the nurse a week before for a one off recording..
And guess what? The pharmacist took my blood pressure and never asked for the readings at all…

If your situation is dire you could see if there are any schemes that could help with emergency grants or loans. Ask the receptionist at your surgery if they know of anything
I have a disability & need certain equipment. It's a myth that the NHS provides equipment for free .

High blood pressure isn’t the issue - oestrogen causes vascular dilation and tends to lower BP - hypotension has risks associated with it: dizziness, fainting or - erm - death…

YABU
I've had to do the same for 7 years for HRT scripts and I thought it was standard practice anyway.
The machines are easily available to buy in Boots or Amazon etc and cost around £20.
Think of it as an investment in your health.

I’ve been on it a year and it’s not been measured. It’s always been on the low side though, even when pregnant 🤷‍♀️

Also if you are working then taking readings twice a day at those times could be extremely inconvenient. High blood pressure isn’t even a contraindication for HRT and this isn’t in the prescribing guidelines.

Since when? Last time I got mine it's free if you have the annual £19 prepayment cert, a full prepayment cert or of course if you're in Scotland or Wales.

Otherwise in England you have to pay the prescription charges, often for 2 medicines.

I've only ever had to get 6 monthly BP measurements but mine has only ever been fine except for the time I left work early for an appointment, drove through hideous rush hour traffic and got there about 2 minutes after my appointment time which got me a telling off from the receptionist despite the clinic running 40 minutes late.

Who do you think should buy it for you? Most of us just buy one - they are not expensive.

Wouldn't work for me. My BP is consistently around 20 points higher when read 'electronically' and I have to have old-style manual BP checks. Nobody can tell me exactly why but apparently it's not unheard of.

I agree if they want you to check it at home, they should lend you a BP monitor.

But you can go to a pharmacy.

They have obviously found that one reading isn't adequate. They wouldn't make you do it for no reason.