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

We have one and I keep an eye on my bp as does dp.

It seems logical that monitoring it twice a day at home is better than a one off reading where you are possibly stressed so it's high.

My opinion is that individuals need to be taking more responsibility for their health and this is one of the ways. Whilst I can see for some the cost would be an issue, frankly the majority who need to do this could afford it given pence per use they are great value and could save your life.

People in the UK need to move away from expecting everything to be done for them for free. Never before have we had so much information at our finger tips, there's no excuse.

I had to pick up a free brand new monitor for my mum from her GP surgery. I asked when I needed to bring it back and was told she should keep it because 'If you add up the cost in terms of staff time then it works out cheaper to provide her with one'.

The point is that in order to get a really accurate picture you want to test your blood pressure frequently, morning and night for a week, and ideally take three readings, sitting quietly for five minutes in between.

You don't have to buy a home machine, you could do that for free at your local pharmacy twice a day (if they're open on a Sunday), but it would be a huge faff for you and them.

People die, have strokes, and get dementia all the time from hypertension. It's not something to cut corners on.

My GP surgery lend BP monitors if you only need to use them on the odd occasion. Maybe you could ask

I don't think yabu. Surely there is also an issue about the reliability of these home monitors ? Also what is to stop someone just submitting whatever fake readings are in the correct range ? Should one should be in the practice? It's a very hands off approach. Of course HRT should be so much more accessible anyway but I'm thinking of older people and other conditions.. do they all need to do their own BP monitoring ? There isn't much care there from the gp practice.

The BP monitors we've had over the years have always had clear instructions. They're very easy to use now.

It's better to do readings at home, the results are more accurate. And good to know so you can do something about it yourself.

I completely disagree with @Ohfuckrucksack

They aren't providing a proper service . Providing a proper service I'd be asking opening post to go in and see her GP to have an overall Medical or to go on the machines to measure her height weight blood pressure, et cetera.. that is of course fine.

Asking her for four days worth of a.m. and p.m. - 8 in total for an HRT repeat prescription seems overkill .

this made me chuckle! I’d love to know what service the OP thinks would be acceptable!

Our surgery rents them out for £10 a time. My DH needed one and it was a very tight time for us financially and I had to grovel to the GP to borrow it free which they did allow. Since then he's been given one because he has to check it every week and he's one of those weird folk who have very high readings when someone else takes it.

I'm surprised by the responses, everybody telling you you can get one from Amazon easily - surely you are missing the point?

Is this a new change? Specifically about HRT? I just don't think this is reasonable. Having your blood pressure checked by GP, or use one of the machines at the surgery is fine. Checking BP annually / occasionally is sensible. Forcing us to buy a contraption is just a step too far.

If you are prescribed hrt, they should check your blood pressure periodically. Hrt will have a cumulative effect, which coupled with your age mean it needs to be monitored.
Re the 'worried well': Lots of people are on medication for high blood pressure and so having a monitor is really useful to check the drugs are working. I'd say that's why most people have them. My DH has one and has to report his readings every week or so

It wasn’t that long ago when our GP wouldn’t accept readings from a home bought monitor. My husband had to wait 6 months for the practice BP monitor to be available despite having a perfectly good one at home. That’s all out the window now isn’t it?!

Well no.

They're also for people who have issues with their blood pressure or who are on medications (inc HRT) where BP is relevant.

‘nothing has changed in 3 years’….. your age certainly has so maybe the risks are different now.

having a PB machine is like having a thermometer. You don’t need it, til you need it and then it’s an emergency and if you’re lucky you’ll never need it but if you’re not feeling well I. The middle of the night it’s a great item to have in the cupboard (with spare batteries!)

My hubby was lent one from GP surgery when.he had to monitor his blood press twice a day for a week. After that he decided to invest in one, it was 15 quid.
Our GP has a machine in reception which you can go in and use if necessary. A community nurse will not come out if you are able bodied

Our GP surgery has ones they lend you.

I was baffled the time I was asked to record my BP for a week, as the receptionist seemed to assume that I would have a machine at home. She was taken aback when I said I didn't (how many ordinary people do have one?) so they let me borrow one of theirs.

I always thought home BP machines were just for the "worried well"! I certainly wouldn't buy one. If you're not keen on going into a pharmacy every day, just do it once to get a ball park figure and then make up the rest - I don't imagine the surgery will check.

Ah, the solution of having ones GP surgeries can lend out. How many do you think won't be returned, or not returned in decent time scales.

My husband works in the pharmacy of a large hospital. They invested in those hand held buzzers so people didn't have to sit and wait for their medication. They 'lost' just under 200 in a month. They gave up on it.

As others have said, pop into your local pharmacy. I don't know of any that don't measure BP.

Calm down. Might want to try that machine out.

So how do you suggest they provide this service to you? Give you a BP monitor? Give you 8 appointments over four days?