A regionwide drive gets under way today (Monday 2 September) to help people aged 40-plus protect themselves against the hidden threat of high blood pressure, one of the biggest causes of premature death in the South West.

Supermarkets, sports matches, libraries, workplaces, festivals and concerts will be hosting simple and free NHS blood pressure checks.

Anyone with high blood pressure – known as the ‘silent killer’ as it rarely has symptoms – can then be managed by their doctor or even manage their own condition through lifestyle changes.

Big steps have been taken over recent months, with 37,505 additional patients tested and treated between September 2023 and March 2024 – three times as many as in the same period the year before.

Many local pharmacies are now offering free blood pressure checks and people can check what the result might mean using the NHS blood pressure checker

But more effort is needed to reach those who are still unaware of their high risk.

That’s why the seven health and care systems spanning from Dorset to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have ramped up blood pressure checks.

Libraries, sports venues, factories, supermarkets and music events as well as a farmers’ market are among the places offering the free blood pressure checks.

Among employers supporting the campaign are clotted cream manufacturers Rodda’s in Cornwall, Hinkley Point in Somerset, and global aviation engineers Ontic in Gloucestershire. All are offering staff free check-ups on their blood pressure from trained health professionals in the workplace.

Dr Michael Marsh, Regional Medical Director for NHS England South West, said: “You could think of high blood pressure in your blood vessels like the water pressure in a garden hose – when the water flows through the hose normally everything is fine.

“But if you put your finger on the end and block the flow, the pressure builds and you may get leaks from the hose. When you have high blood pressure this can have a detrimental impact on your organs and puts you at risk of a heart attack or stroke.

“Left undetected and untreated high blood pressure becomes a silent killer, because it rarely has symptoms. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get it checked.”

The drive coincides with Blood Pressure UK’s Know Your Numbers! Week (2 – 8 September), and will continue throughout the month and beyond.

Professor Margaret Rae, NHS England South West’s Deputy Director of Regional Health Programmes, said: “Around a third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure, although many will not realise it.

“We have made great progress in the numbers of people that have been seen and treated for high blood pressure but more must be done.”

In the South West, identifying an additional 83,700 people, who may have high blood pressure, could prevent 503 heart attacks and 749 strokes, saving the NHS approximately £14 million.

Professor Rae added: “The only way we can reach the thousands of people and potentially save hundreds of lives is by working together with our community pharmacies and GPs, who also offer free blood press checks, our local authority colleagues and public health teams.

“We’re also grateful to the region’s compassionate employers who have accepted the invitation to offer these free blood pressure checks to their staff.”

Family and friends can also help encourage their loved ones to have their blood pressure checked if they are aged 40 plus, perhaps simply by buying then a cheap and easy-to-use blood pressure monitor they can use at home.

You are usually considered to have high blood pressure if you’re aged under 80 years old and your reading is either 140/90 or higher when checked by a healthcare professional or 135/85 or higher when checked at home.

For more information on the importance of a blood pressure check, knowing what those numbers mean and what to do next, visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/our-work/blood-pressure/

Blood pressure checks:

Health and care systems have been working together with a range of partners, businesses and the voluntary sector to step up the offer of a free blood pressure check.

Blood pressures checks are taking place at the following alongside many other events.

Bath and North Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire

Checks will be offered at:

• Somerset and Dorset Railway, Silver Street, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2EY, Sunday 1 September, 10.30am to 2.30pm
• Bath Rugby vs Ealing Trailfinders, Bath Rec Saturday 7 September, 2pm- 6pm
• Youth Music Fest, Alice Park, Gloucester Rd, Bath BA1 7BL, Sunday 8 September, 12pm -4pm
• Bath City FC vs Enfield Town, Twerton Park, 5 High St, Twerton, Bath BA2 1DB, Saturday 21 September, 2pm -6pm

Gloucestershire

Checks will be offered at:

• Forest of Dean (Cinderford, Tesco), Monday 2 September, 10am to 3pm
• Gloucester (City Centre, The Cross), Tuesday 3 September, 10am to 3pm
• North Cotswolds (Stow, Market Square), Wednesday 4 September:
• Cheltenham (Pittville Park), Thursday 5 September, 10am to 3pm
• Tewkesbury (Morrison’s), Friday 6 September, 10am to 3pm
• South Cotswolds (Cirencester Fun Day), Saturday 7 September, 10am to 3pm
• Stroud & Berkeley Vale (Frampton Country Fair), Sunday 8 September, 10am to 3pm

 Somerset

Checks will be offered at:

• 24-hour blood pressure check-a-thon for employees (Thursday and Friday 5 and 6 September) – various locations including Hinkley Point, Yeovil District Hospital and Jay’s Logistics
• Quedam Shopping Centre, Yeovil, Thursday 5 September, 11am – 2pm
• Angel Place, Bridgwater, Thursday 5 September, 2pm -5pm
• ASDA, Taunton, 5pm – 8pm

Devon

Checks will be offered at:

• Paignton Library, Great Western Road, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 5AG, Monday to Friday (daily), 10.00am-1.30pm
• Ernest English House, Buckwell Street, Plymouth, PL1 2DA, Monday 2 September, 10:00am-4.00pm
• Exeter Library, Castle Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3PQ, Tuesday 3 September, 9.00am-1.00pm
• Greendale Vaccination Centre, Sidmouth Road, EX5 2JU, Tuesday 3 September, 2.30pm-5.00pm
• Crediton Tesco, Joseph Locke Way, Crediton, EX17 3FD, Tuesday 3 September, 10.00am-3.00pm
• Happy Hearts – Scala Hall, New Road, Brixham, TQ5 8TA, Thursday 5 September, 10.00am-12.00pm
• Paignton Community Hub, Great Western Road, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 5AG, Thursday 5 September, 9.30am-12.30pm
• B&Q, Avocet Road, Sowton Industrial Estate, Exeter, EX2 7ST, Friday 6 September, 9.30am-3.30pm
• Plymstock Library, 10 Horn Cross Road, Plymstock, PL9 9BU, Friday 6 September, 10.00am-4.00pm
• Seaton Community Hub – Methodist church, Scalwell Lane, Seaton, EX12 2JN, Friday 6 September, 10.00am-2.00pm
• Torbay Pride, ‘The Market Village’ Torre Abbey Meadows, Torbay Road, Torquay, TQ2 5DG, Saturday 7 September (11am–6pm) and Sunday (2pm–5pm)
• Torquay United Football Club, Warbro Road, Torquay, TQI 3PS, Saturday 21 September, 12.30pm–2.30pm

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Checks will be offered at:

• For employees at Rodda’s, Cornwall police, Cornwall Council and NHS, Coastline Housing and National Trust Lanhydrock, throughout September.
• At Argyle Fit sessions throughout September, including at Callywith College Bodmin 10 September at 7.30pm, Camborne College 10 September, Brannel St Austell and Penzance 12 September.
• Healthy Cornwall will be visiting local harbours offering blood pressure checks to members of the fishing community at Newquay on 18 September, Newlyn on 19 September, Mevagissey on 19 September  and Looe  on 27 September
• The summer wellbeing festivals at Hayle Recreation Ground, Saturday 14 September (2pm-5pm), Camborne, Basset Centre, Saturday 14 September (9.30am-12.30pm) and Newquay Orchard, Saturday 21 September (10am-3pm)