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?

Not suggesting that's an acceptable wait at all, but an ambulatory monitor is a somewhat more specialist bit of kit than what the OP needs, so not entirely comparable.

What sort of patches are you using?

Mine stay put in the shower or the pool, worth asking about more reliable /sticky patches (or more appropriate prescribing with some spares - you should not be needing to pay for medicines you receive on prescription).

I'm immensely grateful that I bought one, I'm now on blood pressure medication and am booked in for an echocardiogram. It's £20, buy one.

Of course I don’t. I barely use the NHS, only for my HRT. And I buy at least half of it online myself anyway. This is an unfair comment.

FemSeven Conti. The Evorel ones were totally fine but I can’t use them as a sensitive to progesterone and can only get on with the type that’s used in FemSeven. Oral utrogestan was the worst.

I was responding to the GP lent my mother a portable BP machine.

I'm pointing out that yes,they lend them out, but you have to wait. At my surgery apparently the wait is longer than 8 months. Not suitable for a quick BP reading you need every 6 months.

https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/nhs-hormone-replacement-therapy-prescription-prepayment-certificate-hrt-ppc

It may be that your particular meds are not covered by it?

I also didn't do well with the combined patch but now have the estrogen only patch and take progesterone at night. It has helped a lot with sleep. If the everol patch stuck well, I'd maybe try taking the progesterone separately

Make it hard for you to get HRT saves money. I remember seeing the reaction of a few GPs on Twitter after Davina McCalls second menopause programme. They were angry about the appointments it would take up and the money it would cost. And like a PP said what about those who work. And they know damn well your BP reading will be higher due to the stress of pissing about like this. Makes me really suspicious

Sorry! I see you didn't lie the tabs!

DH had to give BP readings at certain times for 4 days, there was no leeway and it was quite difficult if you are out, how are people expected to do this if they are at work in a factory or warehouse

Our local surgery have some they lend out. But there is a waiting list. My friends on the list and is so far waiting 6 months, she genuinely can’t afford to buy one.
it’s quite a common problem.
the issue is, high blood pressure can be medicated quite easily and the cost to the nhs of not dealing with high blood pressure is going to be much higher than a few more machines to lend out

There is one you can go and use in my GP surgery. We have our own even though all fit and healthy as i grew up knowing it was something to measure regularly (my mum was a nurse and used to do all of us with her massive machine and stethoscope). After she retired she bought a digital one and i have had my own digital one since i was about 30.

Btw - my bp is also on the low side and that is also a good reason to monitor it - there is actually stroke risk.

Do you get free prescriptions op?

It's ridiculous how much people expect from the NHS.

I'm in a European country with public/private health insurance model and I bought my own blood pressure monitor. And rented/bought numerous walking aids for use post-surgery. It's expected and perfectly normal that not everything is paid for.

However it is possible to have a routine surgery within a month of seeing the consultant, and a GP appointment without calling at 8am every day for two weeks, for which I'm grateful. Oh, and to go to A&E and be seen within 2-4 hours for a non-life threatening problem.

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

Calm down. Might want to try that machine out.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

‘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!)

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.

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?!

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