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

The point is also that the absolute reading may be out on a home device compared to medical grade machinery but the relative readings will be helpful regardless. So if the home machine says 120/80 and you are taking it at a consistent time in a consistent way then if it jumps up to 180/100 for a couple of measurements you know to call the GP.
Years ago I was involved in a trial where we asked old people to take their BP because when a nurse or ambulance attended for eg a fall and their BP was super low, they would get admitted but if that was consistent with their home readings then they could review what was "normal" for that person.

I know that is what my father was told, but it’s still a waste of money. The walker is aluminium the scrap metal valve is something.
Do they throw away the ones you use in hospital?

A lot of people get a far more accurate residing it at home due to 'white coat syndrome'. My readings are always higher at the GPs than at home.

In order to reuse the equipment, it would need to be cleaned and checked for safety and missing parts before being re-issued to another patient. Walkers, toilet frames and crutches are not expensive items and it's probably cheaper (and safer) for an NHS hospital or OT department not to take them back.

Not been told to but it has been suggested as a possible option with 1 condition which I turned it down and the doctor was fine about it.

It is not unreasonable to ask (?expect) capable adults to take some responsibility for their own health. The NHS can never be everything to everyone at everytime.

I imagine that's one reason the OP is doing 8 readings...
It's really quite hard to use a home BP monitor wrong, they are not complex.

Well im nearly 51 and on the mini pill but wouldnt be if they had listened to me about being child free by choice. Ive also just started HRT

And if the reading has been taken incorrectly, who takes responsibility? We’ve had occasions over the years when my DD’s has had to be redone because staff were either learning or equipment was faulty.

It's an electronic BP monitor and the readings are better when done at home as many people have a higher BP in clinical setting whether they like it or not.
Everyone should take responsibility for their own health and care and having a way to monitor at home is a small step.

We bought 30 new sphygs last year for women to use who had raised BP as a way of them monitoring their BP during pregnancy. They were told how to use it, given paperwork regarding the readings and when they should contact the hospital. They were then asked to bring them back. It took less then 6 months for them all to go. Same with the oximeters we leant out for women to measure their sats and heart rate when they were COVID positive, and the same with TENs machines. So now we suggest the women buy them. I bought one as I'm in the pill and over 45. I see it the same as the thermometer, the oximeter (one I bought, not from work 😆) and the other medical things I have bought so I can keep an eye on my observations.

i actually have a blood pressure monitor at home but I still think this is an excessive demand. Most women are prescribed HRT with no tests and if your blood pressure has always been low then all these tests seem crazy. There’s no evidence that HRT raises blood pressure.

If you demand appointments for BP readings when you've been told to DIY, then yes you are a drain. If that does not apply to you, then it does not apply to you.

They are by ensuring your BP is as it should be prior to issuing medication.

A very Unreasoned response. Is this laziness on your part?

As adults we need to get used to taking more control of our own lives.
It will also help you to understand health matters.

Not sure that this is the NHS's fault/responsibility. I live in a country with outstanding healthcare and I own my own BP monitor. You have a very clear choice - buy one or go to a chemist twice daily - either way will allow the NHS to do their job properly. You may think it's unnecessary - that's a different matter which you can take up with them.

Well obviously so the poster firing off re patients not buying machines being a drain on the nhs is frankly ridiculous.

I wouldn't know about your daughter's needs would I? Whether or not she "needs" them done by a health professional would be between you and the health professionals.

Right but it isn't 1965 and there are home BP machines now. Like I said, moving with the times.

I've been using one from Amazon daily for the last six months after neighbour's stroke. Works just as well as my old professional Omron, calibrated against rapid response and paramedic machines. The cuff fits everyone and the batteries last forever.

Fifteen quid. If you ever have a medical episode at home it's incredibly helpful to medics.

I think in this case you'd have to bite the bullet and either buy a monitor (are they available to hire?) or go to the pharmacy.
However.... I was told by my GP surgery to go to the pharmacy (I've been on low dose BP medication for a few years now) rather than make an appointment with a nurse (mine is a 'once every few months' thing, not daily!).
But when l looked on the pharmacy and NHS websites, the guidelines are that if you've already been diagnosed with raised BP, they won't do it. You have to see, and l quote, 'a medical professional at your GP surgery'.
No one at my GP surgery, including the GP l saw, seemed to be aware of this. They actually had to look it up on the NHS website while l was there, and seemed very surprised that that was the case.

It's not just a few machines.

We have 9 million people with diagnosed high blood pressure and an estimated 14 million with high blood pressure. That's an awful lot of machines to hand out!

HRT was available in 1965 No home blood pressure machines then

Great that’s you. For my daughter and the things she needs readings for I want a health professional to do it. That way I be know it’s actually been done- and accurately!

Moving with the times. HRT didn't used to exist. BP machines didn't used to exist.
I've been giving my own BP readings since I was a teenager on the pill, it's hardly revolutionary. Nobody has to buy anything - there are alternatives.