Is this for an out of hours GP? Or ok to wait?

[Hypertension190over90]

Mum is on BP meds but it’s not come down. She has a home reading of 190/90, I know the machine is accurate. It’s been like this for the weekend at least.

She currently has a headache and is feeling tired. My brother thinks she should go to our local urgent care unit so they can make an appointment for her to see an out of hours GP today. It’s very quick usually and will just give some reassurance until she can make a proper appointment with her usual doctor.

She wants to just wait till next week when she can see a doctor. Should we just take her to the out of hours doc? The NHS website seems to say if she is experiencing confusion, to go to a&e, I think she might be downplaying this as she just doesn't want to worry anyone.

Your mums blood pressure is at the hypertensive level. I would be taking her to A&E now especially with her also having a headache too.

I wouldn't worry about a diastolic of 90.

Just make a normal GP appt.

We are not worried about 90, it’s the 190 that’s very concerning.

I'd call 111 now and they will be able to inform you on the best course of action.

This is what brother has said, but she insists she is fine. Even if she goes and they just measure it properly on a proper machine then that’s something.

the problem is that the NHS website doesn’t include headache as a reason to go to a&e. Just confusion, blurry vision, chest pains etc. If it included headaches I think there would be less resistance to go.

Is she's feeling unwell and you would normally see the GP about it, why would you wait? That's the purpose of the out of hours doctor.
This is why Monday mornings are hell in GP practices on a Monday morning.
There may be no appointments tomorrow. Then what?
HCP

Phone 111. They will decide if it's something that needs to be referred to A&E or can wait.

She is resistant to go as headache isn’t on this list on the NHS website



Also her doctor has told her just to call him if she gets a high reading. So she is following that. But this is oh so high, surely it bypasses that advice.

HCP here. While headache isn't specifically listed, if she is feeling unwell then it's better to be safe then sorry. I would contact 111 at least

I'd be calling 111 and seeing what their system thinks is the right thing to do.

Has she tried paracetamol for the headache?

If you have an out of hours service that is by far the most appropriate option as they will direct you to A&E if needed ( or alternatively ring 111)

Yes it’s not helped

To reassure you slightly my dh had blood pressure of 185 over 90 and the GP was not overly concerned. He told him he needed to make some lifestyle changes and also told him to take his blood pressure twice a day for 10 days and report back to the gp.

Dh didn’t have headaches though so maybe you should phone 111.

Why not call 111 and get advice? It won't do any harm.

Called 111, just waiting to hear back.

What did 111 say?

It was an ambulance in the end. A&E for hours, but they finally got it down and she feels much better. We should have gone to urgent care in the day but she will hopefully listen next time.

Good that you went. I'm on max dose of Ramipril and if my blood pressure was as high as that on medication I would have been very worried. Well done for getting it looked at.