Community pharmacies in England delivered over 149,000 blood pressure checks to people over 40 in May 2023, more than double the previous year.
Additional funding from the primary care access recovery plan will enable 2.5 more million blood pressure checks in community pharmacies, aiming to prevent more than 1,350 cardiovascular events each year.
The NHS is also expanding blood pressure checks available in local communities, such as barbershops and mosques, to prevent strokes and heart attacks.
Welcoming the figures, RPS England Board Chair, Tase Oputu, said: “Community pharmacies have done outstanding work to double the number of blood pressure checks for the over 40s in the past year, helping to prevent many heart attacks and strokes.
“Conveniently located in the heart of communities they serve and highly trusted, pharmacy teams provide expert advice and services that address health inequalities on a daily basis.”
Read more RPS news stories.