GP Text?

[Chatterboxy]

I’ve had a text message today from my GP Surgery out of the blue asking for my Blood Pressure reading. I’ve never had this kind of request before, neither have I ever had any kind of BP issues in my life.

The last time I had to use my GP services was well before the first lockdown.

I actually have a BP machine at home, so it wouldn’t be a problem.

Just curious if anyone else has had any texts from GP??

Our surgery sends these texts. They need bp readings every 5 years (unless a patient already have bp issues) and if you have your own machine it saves a much needed appointment.
The system works really well.

Thanks, didn’t know this was a thing?
I’m in my early 60’s & it’s the first text I’ve ever had.

It's coming to the end of the QOF year, in Wales at least, and points make prizes. BP readings may be included.

Yes I had a weird one this week about needing an ECG and blood tests.
I don’t have any health issues or meds and am in my early 30s so god knows but I’m ignoring it.

I've had texts asking for my ethnicity as apparently they don't have that on their records.

Now that one is weird! 🤔

@Chatterboxy just wondering if you ever heard anymore after the blood pressure request? I have had the same thing this morning and rang my surgery to ask if this was correct and they said yes bit had no idea why!

No GP "needs" random BP readings, surely? I am nearly 60, registered with a GP but haven't used the service for the best part of 20 years (generally healthy & don't want to waste GP time for minor issues).
I would be very unimpressed if I were asked for my BP, apart from the fact that I have no way of checking. A random, one-off reading is of no use to anybody.

@Hbh17 GP’s are supposed to have a recording of your BP every 5 years if otherwise well. It’s likely your practice has a BP machine in reception for this?

Is this really a thing now? I would have just assumed that my telephone number was either miss dialled/texted or had been randomly swapped with another patients - easy to do by transposing a number I would guess.

Bp is very "in" at the moment, one of the nhs core20+5 clinical areas of focus.

Yes it’s really a thing.

Along with sending questionnaires for health checks, HRT checks, travel questions before booking a travel vaccine appointment etc.

There are constantly people moaning about there not being enough appointments available and this saves some appointments, that people who are ill are then able to use instead.

There are poster up in surgeries and info on practice websites re using message services. They can even send sick notes via message now.

Never had any of that from any GP surgery over signed up to. Just seems to be an additional burden for already stretched surgeries to have to plough their way through. Don’t they have enough on their plates already dealing with actually sick patients without this?
before anyone starts - I get that prevention is way better and cheaper than cure - but be honest, the nhs can’t even deal with people who are really sick and emergencies without looking for yet more potential patients to treat/placate. Let’s get the basics right first?