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.
The team are currently visiting 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:
Friday 4 April 2025 - Brimscombe
Time: 10am-2pm
Location: Brimscombe Mill Long Table
Address: Brimscombe Mills, Brimscombe Hill, Brimscombe, Stroud GL5 2QN
Wednesday 11 June 2025 - Bourton-on-the-Water
Time: 10.30am-2.30pm
Location: Community Day Club
Address: The Lounge, Market Close, Bourton-on-the-Water GL54 2HE
Monday 16 June 2025 - Hucclecote, Gloucester
Time: 10.30am-11.30am
Location: Carers Café
Address: Hucclecote Methodist Church, Hucclecote, Gloucester GL3 3QP
Wednesday 18 June 2025 - Moreton-in-Marsh
Time: 10am-2pm
Location: Friendship Café
Address: Jameson Court, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0EW
Thursday 20 June 2025 - Churchdown
Time: 12.30-3.30pm
Location: Community Connections event (for people with and affected by MS)
Address: Churchdown Community Centre, Parton Road, Churchdown, Gloucester GL3 2JH
Monday 23 June 2025 - Quedgeley
Time: 2pm-3.30pm
Location: Carers Café
Address: Quedgeley Library, Bristol Road, Quedgeley, Gloucester GL2 4PE
Thursday 26 June 2025 - Yorkley
Time: 2pm-4pm
Location: The Community Centre
Address: 2 Bailey Hill, Yorkley, Nr. Lydney GL15 4RS
Monday 30 June 2025 - Cirencester
Time: 9.30am-12pm
Location: Cirencester Stroke Club
Address: Beech Grove Court, Queen Anne’s Road, Cirencester GL7 1BD
Wednesday 2 July 2025 - Sedbury
Time: 2pm-3.30pm
Location: Memory Café
Address: Sedbury and Beachley Village Hall, King Alfred’s Road, Sedbury NP16 7AQ
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.”
