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?

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.
🙄

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!

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

Did you not read it?

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.

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.

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.

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!!!"

A one off reading at the surgery isn’t a good review of general health, or an accurate measure of normal blood pressure.

How long have you been in HRT? I’ve not heard of this BP reading requirement?

I got my own because I detest going to the GP and my blood pressure was always through the roof whenever they took it. At home where I’m relaxed and comfortable, it’s absolutely fine.

Just what exactly does this "proper service" entail in your eyes?

Do you want your blood pressure to be checked in centre by a professional?
Do you want to be given the meds without the blood pressure checks?
Do you want someone to come and check your blood pressure?
Do you want the NHS to supply you a machine?

Just what is it that you expect here that would give you "proper service"?

If you want someone to take your BP then ask the practice to arrange it - either by practice nurse or other fashion.

If you expect the NHS to supply you a machine then i think you have outlandish expectations of a free service that supplies millions of people for the price of the NI contributions.

Personally i'd spend the £10 and get myself the machine so i didn't have to go out the house to get the readings twice a day.

It's a right!

It's called white coat syndrome 😂

I agree with you op. My gp has often asked if I take my own bp as if that’s perfectly normal. I’ve grown up with qualified people doing it. It wouldn’t even occur to me to buy my own machine! YANBU.

You could argue it is a better service to base their decision making on 4 days of readings rather than one. It is also more accurate to take BP at home as many peoples BP goes up when they are at the doctors.

A couple of my relatives were advised to buy BP monitors (10 - 15 years ago) and take readings at home for this reason. It isn’t a new thing.

I have had one a few years now. I think I bought it in 2020 because of covid and on a few occasions I have been asked for a recent reading during telephone apportionments. For example I can get my pill prescription with a telephone appointment now which is much more efficient (for them and me).

That said if you don’t have one and don’t want to buy (or borrow) one then there should be an alternative.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Pressure-Monitors-Machine-Certified/dp/B0CZ43S5GM/ref=asc_df_B0CZ43S5GM/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=691899886767&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6856040360075604200&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046342&hvtargid=pla-2297974683494&psc=1&mcid=a092b68c394230158ad0c1fddeaf5ce7&gad_source=1

Also i just googled and theres one on Ebay for 8quid.

I think it's fair enough as some people may already own one or prefer to buy a more advanced machine. As PPs mentioned it is possible to get BP taken for free just more hassle.

Though £20 is still a lot for some on limited budgets to find quickly and may need to pay for transport to get to free options, so perhaps the NHS could provide a lower cost option given their buying power.

I was sent a free BP monitor by the specialist as have to provide BP prior to prescriptions as the side effects are increased BP/pulse. I thought it was a shame they didn't check if I needed one before posting it.

That seems an unnecessary amount of BP readings. We ask for 3 home readings taken at different times for reviews.

Lots of people now own BP monitors. If you don’t have one you can use the ones in most pharmacies, or you might know someone who has one. We also have one in our waiting room for people to use but it’s sometimes out of action as people break it, or let their kids play on it 🙄

Its not unreasonable to ask people to check their own blood pressure IMO.

I can read perfectly well. Were you so droolingly eager to get your snark in that you couldn't properly read my post where I suggested another solution could be that surgeries could have portable BP machines to lend patients under these circumstances, as happened for my Mum recently? So that the patient can take their own readings twice a day, using a machine that should be a reliable brand, without the need for appointments, buying a machine or visiting a pharmacy.