Opticians to trial blood pressure checks

Optical and dental practices will trial blood pressure checks during routine appointments to identify patients at risk of stroke and heart attacks.

An NHS England pilot scheme was run by dental and optometry teams in London and Yorkshire but now more than 15 local integrated care boards will take part.

In London, five optical practices in Bexley and Hackney offered blood pressure checks to patients and a survey of those tested also indicated that around half would not have otherwise had their blood pressure checked.

More than 60 clinical practices across England will take part in the trial and over 100,000 blood pressure checks were expected to be delivered in the next 12 months.