Bill Harvey: The paperboy brings more

I was talking with a colleague this week about blood pressure monitoring by optometrists. The topic is raised in one of this week’s CET articles (see page 28) which includes the line, ‘Measure your older patients’ blood pressure at each visit.’

A decade or so ago, GPs were wary of allied health professionals undertaking BP measurements, especially if using electronic testing kit rather than the old ‘lub-dub’ sphygmo and stethoscope. The recent statistics of undiagnosed hypertension along with an acceptance of the accuracy of simple electronic testing kit (most GPs now use them) has turned this attitude on its head. Indeed, my GP told me: ‘The more testing the better.’ And we see the over-forties every couple of years, even the men. Something blood pressure screeners would envy.