Our Community Outreach Vaccination and Health team, together with our One Gloucestershire health and care partners, are supporting the Blood Pressure UK campaign, ‘Know Your Numbers’, all year round, in a bid to reduce heart attacks and stroke.
Starting next month (February), they will be visiting various locations across Gloucestershire, offering people simple health checks, including blood pressure, and chatting to them about simple changes they can make to their lifestyle, such as stopping smoking, improving their diet or increasing exercise.
High blood pressure is a major cause of heart attacks and stroke. Around one in three adults have high blood pressure, but many don’t realise it because it often doesn’t have any symptoms until it’s too late.
The Know your Numbers campaign urges everyone, particularly those aged 40 and over, to get a blood pressure (BP) check to find out their numbers and start making healthy lifestyle changes or taking medicines if needed to help bring their blood pressure down.
There are several ways for people to access a BP check, including at a local pharmacy, at a community drop-in event, or at their GP surgery. Some people may also wish to check their BP at home with a home blood pressure monitor.
The Outreach Vaccination and Health team delivered more than 1,250 BP checks at community drop-in events in 2023/24, with almost 150 of those people referred to their GP practice, either due to their blood pressure results or other reasons which came up during health checks.
The team also chat to people about simple changes they can make to their lifestyle, such as stopping smoking, improving their diet or increasing exercise and signposting to further support if needed.
Find out more about the Know Your Numbers campaign in Gloucestershire and how to access a BP check.
In Gloucestershire, prevention and increasing the early identification of high blood pressure and supporting those with a diagnosis to manage their condition are important priorities. That’s why we’re supporting the Know Your Numbers campaign all year round.
Oonagh Wilson, Clinical Lead, Community Outreach Vaccination and Health team, said: “The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked. All adults over 40 years old are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years. Getting this done is easy and could save your life.”
How to access a blood pressure check:
- At a community health outreach team event – see dates and locations below
- At a pharmacy – use the NHS website to find a pharmacy close to you
- At your local GP surgery – some GP surgeries have a blood pressure machine in their waiting room, or you may be able to book a check with a member of the surgery team
- You can also check your blood pressure yourself with a home blood pressure monitor – see below.
Dates and locations
Our Community Outreach Vaccination and Health team will be offering health checks at the following locations:
Tuesday 4 February 2025 - Cheltenham
Time: 11am-2pm
Location: Cheltenham Open Door
Address: Unit 3 St George’s Business Park, Alstone Lane, Cheltenham GL51 8HF
Wednesday 5 February 2025 - Brimscombe
Time: 10am-3pm
Location: Brimscombe Mill Long Table
Address: Brimscombe Mills, Brimscombe Hill, Brimscombe, Stroud GL5 2QN
Friday 7 February 2025 - Kingswood
Time: 10.30am-12.30pm
Location: Keepers Kingswood
Address: The Lower Schoolroom, The Walk, Kingswood GL12 8RP
Wednesday 19 February 2025 - North Nibley
Time: 10am-12pm
Location: Keepers North Nibley
Address: North Nibley Chapel, Barrs Lane, North Nibley GL11 6DT
Monday 24 February 2025 - Cinderford
Time: 11am-2pm
Location: Candi Café
Address: 31 Market Street, Cinderford GL14 2RT
Wednesday 26 February 2025 - Cheltenham
Time: 11am-2pm
Location: St Paul’s Hub
Address: Off St Paul’s Walk, Cheltenham GL50 4GG
Wednesday 12 March 2025 - Brimscombe
Time: 10am-3pm
Location: Brimscombe Mill Long Table
Address: Brimscombe Mills, Brimscombe Hill, Brimscombe, Stroud GL5 2QN
Wednesday 26 March 2025 - Cheltenham
Time: 11am-2pm
Location: St Paul’s Hub
Address: Off St Paul’s Walk, Cheltenham GL50 4GG
Friday 4 April 2025 - Brimscombe
Time: 10am-2pm
Location: Brimscombe Mill Long Table
Address: Brimscombe Mills, Brimscombe Hill, Brimscombe, Stroud GL5 2QN
Check your blood pressure yourself
Home monitoring can be a really useful way of keeping track of your blood pressure. To make sure you get reliable readings, it’s important to use a monitor that’s suitable for you and that you know how to use it.
Find out more about home blood pressure monitoring on the Blood Pressure UK website, or speak to a pharmacist about what type of monitor may best suit your needs.
‘Thanks to the team’s persistence, my urgent health condition was identified’
Phil (aged 37) happened to be holidaying in the Cotswolds on the day of their visit. He recalls: “There was an NHS van parked in Stow Market Square offering free blood pressure checks. Despite my initial reservations the team were persistent in checking me. They found that my blood pressure was extremely high.
“Following their advice, I managed to get an urgent appointment with my GP, had blood tests and a 24-hour blood pressure monitor fitted.
“I hadn’t been experiencing any symptoms, so was totally unaware of my underlying health condition.
“Thanks to the team’s persistence, my urgent health condition was identified, and I am now on medication to control it. I am extremely grateful.”
