Call to extend pressure screening

The co-lead of a Brixton blood pressure screening service aimed at increasing awareness and detection of hypertension in young Afro-Caribbean and African males has called for the scheme to be rolled out nationally.

Under the scheme, optical practices and a domiciliary service in Brixton targeted 'at risk' groups and offered free blood pressure checks and eye tests.

As part of the Brixton Hypertension Pilot Project, unveiled in December 2006 and launched by Kate Hoey MP, a total of 283 patients were screened, 63 per cent of whom were male and of those 73 per cent were from the target group.