Blood Pressure

Patients can ask to borrow a blood pressure (BP) machine from us free of charge to use in the waiting room. Lend them a BP machine and a laminated instruction sheet. There should also be slips with space for patients to write 3 readings down.

If patients wish to borrow a BP machine, they will need to leave a £20 deposit, refundable on return. Please add a code to their EMIS record so we can search for patients who have our machines.

Please see this link and share with patients. How to take BP readings.

High BP - not known to have hypertension

If BP is > 140/90 then repeat it 3 times.  Record the lowest result.  

If the lowest BP is between 140/90 and 159/99 send a task to the doctor who sees the patient most often informing them of this.  

If the lowest BP is 160/100 or greater please discuss with the on-call doctor before letting the patient go home. The doctor will then decide whether any medication is needed straight away. 

Low BP - not known to have hypertension

If BP is lower than 100/60 ask the patient if they have any symptoms such as feeling dizzy or unwell and inform the doctor on-call who will assess the patient. 

For patients who ARE known to have hypertension 

High BP - known to have hypertension

If age is 79 or under and BP is less than 140/90 code this into EMIS.

If age is 80 or over and BP is less than 150/90 code this into EMIS.

If readings are outside this range, add as FREE TEXT to EMIS.

If BP is > 140/90 then repeat it 3 times.  Record the lowest result. 

If the lowest BP is between 140/90 and 159/99 send a task to the doctor who seems to see them most informing them of this.  

If the lowest BP is 160/100 or greater please ask the patient when they last took their antihypertensive medication and discuss with the on-call doctor. The doctor will then decide whether any medication change is needed straight away. 

Low BP - known to have hypertension

If BP is lower than 100/60 ask the patient if they have any symptoms such as feeling dizzy or unwell and inform the on call doctor. 

Pulse

Record the pulse in beats per minute and if it is regular or irregular.

If the pulse is irregular and over 100 beats per minute then inform the on-call doctor. 

If the pulse is irregular speak to the oncall doctor. If it is less than 100 beats per minute and they are NOT already known to have Atrial Fibrillation then arrange a routine ECG. If it is higher then urgent care by the oncall doctor may be needed.