Keeping an eye on things: People's experiences of home blood pressure monitoring in Oxfordshrie and Buckinghamshire

Healthwatch Oxfordshire and Healthwatch Bucks reported on their findings from a collaborative project led by Healthwatch England and supported by five local Healthwatch teams, including Healthwatch Oxfordshire and Healthwatch Bucks.

Healthwatch were asked to evaluate the NHS blood pressure @home programme by listening to patients experiences of home blood pressure monitoring and to make recommendations to inform future ‘remote monitoring’ programmes. The project later expanded its scope to include anyone who monitored their own blood pressure.

The study used a combination of a patient survey and in-depth interviews, collected from August to October 2021. The analysis is based on 159 complete patient surveys and in-depth interviews with six people.

The results show that people monitor their blood pressure for different reasons and experience it in different ways. Although most people’s experiences are positive, and they find it convenient and relatively easy, some people require support to use a monitor and others would prefer to have their blood pressure taken at their GP practice.

Several factors are likely to encourage people to take part and remain engaged in home BP monitoring. These include having access to clear information about blood pressure and how to check it, flexibility in how readings can be sent, and good communication and regular feedback from GP practices.

A number of recommendations were made in the report.