Can a pharmacist take BP?

[weeblueberry]

I've been having quite searing headaches the last couple of days (very unusual for me) and I'm keen to get my BP checked. I'm 30 weeks so at prime time for developing pre-eclampsia.

I don't want to waste the doctors time making an appointment for it and the midwife only works afternoons and I definitely don't want to take time off work for it.

Just wondered if there's some sort of drop in place I can get it checked or if the pharmacist can do it?

You need to see your midwife really, she needs to check for protein in your urine as well. You can call her up and she'll come out, or you can call the community midwifery team at the hospital and they will send someone. Is there a walk in centre? You could try there if you get no joy with the midwife/midwifery team. It's more than likely they will direct you towards the maternity unit though so you could try there too.

Sorry. I hope you're OK

Some of the larger pharmacies might have one of those machines where you can do it yourself. I don't think pharmacists are typically trained to take people's blood pressure the traditional way.

There's a BP machine in the waiting room of my GP's surgery so you can do it yourself

I had bp done by a pharmacist but it was only one of the electric pump machines you can buy, nothing flash. He then looked on a chart and read out the appropriate bit from a pamphlet. If you're pg and worried, go and see a midwife or gp, I'm sure they won't mind.

Lloyds pharmacies sell home blood pressure kits for £9.99, but as PP have said its not as simple as just having your BP done. You need to see someone, poss contact labour ward ?

It's best to see someone (not a pharmacist). If you do have a high BP then you'd have to get some medical help anyway so you'd need to make another journey somewhere. There should be a contact number for the midwifery team/labour ward in your maternity notes. Give them a call and ask what you should do.

Thanks all - I'll give my midwife a quick call and see if she thinks the headaches alone are worth looking into. I don't have any swelling so I'm possibly overreacting. I just want to make sure if it's something more sinister it's dealt with ASAP.

Sadly the GPs surgery doesn't have a BP machine and I can't think our local pharmacy or anything would have one.

I'm just really reluctant to waste the midwives time when it's probably nothing.

What about the practice nurse or healthcare assistant at your GP practice? Just phone the receptionist and ask.

OP call your midwife and let her decide if it's nothing.

Hi I am a doctor and I think you should arrange to see your gp asap with this sort of thing. Just to be on the safe side. Do not worry about wasting ur gps time x

I think I will call tomorrow morning and see if a nurse can squeeze me in. It will only take them 2 minutes to do (and show me there's nothing wrong ).

Thanks again!

As someone who had preeclampsia - please call your midwife ASAP. Do not wait until tomorrow. I had a splitting headache and went to lie down. Two hours later DH was driving me to hospital with a police car escorting us. The staff at the hospital were able to get everything back under control and went full term. Others are not so lucky.

As a GP and previous gynaecology dr please call your midwife/maternity assessment unit ASAP/now.... Even if it's just to get your urine checked for protein, and bp checked. Not worth leaving it if you're headache is that bad xxxx