Health is where your heart is: blood pressure checks in dental practices and opticians

Healthwatch Hertfordshire was commissioned by Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB to undertake patient engagement on people's understanding of hypertension and the associated risk factors and to evaluate materials for a pilot of checking people's blood pressure in dentist surgeries and opticians.  They undertook two focus groups, reaching 21 people.

Across both focus groups, participants were very positive about checking blood pressure within dental practices and/or opticians. Participants felt this was a beneficial initiative for the NHS to implement and could help increase the detection of hypertension. 

Participants raised a range of concerns and barriers which may prevent residents from taking up the opportunity to have their blood pressure measured within these settings and it is important that the ICB takes these into consideration as it moves forward with its pilot. Participants were positive they would act on the advice given if they were to have their blood pressure checked and gave practical suggestions such as providing reminders via text or email to help remind residents to have their blood pressure monitored. 

Generally, participants had a good understanding of hypertension and its associated risk factors and knew where they could go to have their blood pressure checked and/or receive support in managing their blood pressure. However they did raise various barriers they, or others, face in checking their blood pressure on a regular basis, which again is important for the ICB to address. They also provided a range of suggestions for where else blood pressure monitoring could be implemented, most of which were within community spaces, indicating the importance of accessibility and convenience.