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?

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.

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.

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

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 .

Well yes, part of my surprise was that I thought you had to be trained to take BP measurements and use a good quality instrument. Having checked though, the £10 on Amazon is CE-marked but whether it’s foolproof to use remains to be seen.

I guess things have changed a lot and so I need to adjust my expectations. Interested to know if this is now the norm for everyone on HRT?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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'.

I was fine with going into the GP surgery and using their machine to take BP readings every 6 months.

As PP said, even better would be an annual appointment to check weight, BP and actually have a conversation about management of symptoms/any issues.

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.

To add, I’ve never had a face-to-face appointment for menopause/HRT. The only time was when I saw a phlebotomist for bloods. It’s all been phone calls.

I've personally got better things to do than traipse to a pharmacy or gp daily rather than pay £20. It's handy to have one in case anyone in the household needs it anyway.

Overkill? It's hardly onerous. Why do you need a GP appointment for things you can do at home? Do you need to be measured and weighed by a DR? That's the kind of attitude that is crippling the NHS - unwilling to take even minor responsibility for their own health.

This is not a new thing, I have been on BP medication and then HRT for quite some time and have had my own BP machine, if I go to the surgery by the time I have found somewhere to park, made it down the stairs to the surgery and then rushed about inside my BP is all over the place, going to the pharmacy wouldn't be any better. Instead, I have a routine where I take it weekly most of the time, same day, same time etc. and when appropriate I do it daily. I have never been asked to do it twice a day. I like to be in control and aware.

Not everything comes for free by the NHS . I've diabetes Type 2 and have had to buy my blood glucose monitor and test strips for years . It's never occurred to me to have a whinge about it !

Can I ask how the private/public system works in other countries? What appointments/tests/treatments are covered by each?

YANBU

I think some commenters here are being really harsh. The OP does not WANT her BP taken twice per day, for four days. It is the SURGERY who have requested this, with the threat of not issuing her repeat prescription if she does not do what they are demanding. The OP has no BP issues, she just wants her prescription that she's had for some time now without issue. The GP is being unreasonable expecting people to spend money and buy equipment that is needed for 4 days. The GP is also being unreasonable by threatening to withhold a repeat prescription over this when the BP has no history of high BP.

OP, people are being ridiculous on this thread. I get you. I sure as heck wouldn't be buying one either. I've learned from this thread that you can get it checked for free at a pharmacy though. If I were you, I'd get a reading done at a pharmacy once, then just submit that reading for all "8" readings that they want.

What do you think that should be? You have the option to go to the surgery (everyone I’ve been to has one in reception) / pharmacy or buy a machine.

For something which doesn’t require a medical professional to administer it what do you think should happen?

Yabu. It's basic medical equipment. They're not expensive and will last for years. I have one (I'm 50 and healthy).

I’ve answered that upthread. And I can’t go to the surgery as it’s not open for 4 consecutive full days.

I’ve bought a monitor now.

Blood pressure monitors aren't exactly expensive, and surely they are the sort of thing that everyone should have anyway, like having a thermometer and basic over the counter medication ?

@Kinshipug

"Do you need to be measured and weighed by a DR? That's the kind of attitude that is crippling the NHS - unwilling to take even minor responsibility for their own health."

No, I'm not asking for these things. They've been done to me at every diabetic clinic appointment I've ever been to in the last 50 years.

I just don't see why 8 is needed for an HRT repeat prescription.