British Heart Foundation suggest the wider primary care team can:
- Increase opportunistic blood pressure testing in the practice: Think blood pressure in every routine consultation with a patient (this can include discussions held over the telephone and virtually); Make blood pressure testing routine in clinics such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, weight management, smoking cessation, as well as other local enhanced service clinics; Add blood pressure check to any templates to help prompt staff.
- Always offer ambulatory or, when appropriate, home blood pressure monitoring in order to confirm a diagnosis of high blood pressure.
- Always include assessment of cardiovascular risk as part of diagnoses.
- To promote high standards in blood pressure measurement, ensure your machines are calibrated and signpost patients and staff to video training resources.