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

[TangoTarantella]

Had a text from the GP surgery this morning to say that to re-authorise my HRT prescription I need to provide daily blood pressure readings at 9am and 6pm for 4 consecutive days. I rang the surgery and asked how I was supposed to do this and they said I had to buy a blood pressure machine (as if it was the most normal thing in the world). I was gobsmacked. Am I unreasonable to think I shouldn’t have to pay for medical equipment that I don’t want? Has anyone else had this?

Probably worth buying one for longtem onitoring and peace of mind. If people can't/won't buy their own BP machine, they can arange to have a 24 hour monitor arranged by GP surgery

Personally I think you’re being very unreasonable. When did people stop taking responsibility for their own health? Having one at home is very handy and you can get one quite cheap as people have said.

This reflects a lot of people’s attitude to their health. More than happy to spend £xx on Netflix and takeaway coffes, but when it comes to investing in their health they becry.

And yet at 18:29, just a few posts before the one I've quoted, you say "I expect to be given a BP monitor".
Was that a typo then?

The government introduced a HRT prepayment which means you won’t pay more than £20 a year , I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask you to buy a cheap monitor - one for £10 on Amazon

Have you looked into this? I have mine taken at my local one.

YABU.

If you're of an age to need HRT, you should have one anyway. They don't call hypertension "the silent killer" for nothing.

I would say to anyone it's the best £20 (less than 2 prescriptions) you will spend to support your health. You can check your blood pressure in 5 minutes on the comfort of your own sofa, and record the results in one of many free apps. I've been tracking mine for 3 years now as I did have high BP and am now on medication. I've seen the effect of giving up caffeine (10mm in the right direction) and how much it varies, that's why they ask for an average reading over a few days.

Don't most surgeries have one in the waiting room? Just pop in a takeaway your own pressure, no appointments needed

They do provide a proper service. You can go to a pharmacy and take your BP readings if you don't want to buy a monitor. What is it that you want your GP to do exactly?

They’re handy to have- OR go to the surgery daily and do it.

Our hp surgery has some you can borrow but the waiting list is massive. For the sake of £20 it's nit worth the hassle.
Uou do NIT need ghe digging all dancing ones. GPs and hospitals use basic portable ones.

My GP sent me home with a brand new. After a few weeks I got my own and returned it. So the next person could use it right away until they manage get there own.

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

@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.

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

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

Same here.

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

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.