National Know Your Numbers week (8 to 15 September) is hosted by Blood Pressure UK and aims to encourage everyone to get a blood pressure check.
High blood pressure is known as the “silent killer” – no symptoms, just risk. It can lead to heart attacks and strokes. It can also cause kidney disease, dementia and other illnesses. However, these tragedies can be prevented through awareness of high blood pressure, blood pressure checks and management.
Around a third of people in the UK have high blood pressure, but most don’t know it. It doesn’t have any symptoms so, the only way to find out is to have a blood pressure check.
Once you Know Your Numbers! you can get support to bring your blood pressure under control and prevent these diseases.
Throughout Know Your Numbers week we are helping colleagues and residents access free checks across North Yorkshire at the following locations:
- self-service blood pressure check stations will be available throughout the week in 25 of our libraries. Here you can use the blood-pressure monitor yourself to take a reading, then follow the guidance to help understand your reading and whether you need to take any further action. These libraries include Bedale, Boroughbridge, Catterick, Derwent Valley Bridge, Eastfield, Filey, Great Ayton, Harrogate, Hawes, Helmsley, Knaresborough, Malton, Masham, Newby and Scalby, Northallerton, Norton, Pickering, Ripon, Scarborough, Selby, Skipton, Stokesley, Tadcaster, Thirsk, and Whitby. Check the library opening times before visiting
- if you are a member of our library service, you can borrow a blood pressure monitor using your library card to measure your blood pressure yourself. This equipment can be requested at any North Yorkshire Council managed library and its free to become a member. Check the library opening times before visiting
- self-service blood pressure checks will also be available on our mobile libraries at the following locations:
- Sherburn on Monday 8 September 10am – midday (Living Well Smokefree team on hand to provide stop smoking advice if needed)
- Weaverthorpe on Monday 8 September 1pm – 3pm (Living Well Smokefree team on hand to provide stop smoking advice if needed)
- Brotherton on Tuesday 9 September 10am – midday (Healthy Lifestyle team on hand to provide support and advice if needed)
- Fairburn on Tuesday 9 September 1pm – 3pm (Healthy Lifestyle team on hand to provide support and advice if needed)
- Castleton on Thursday 11 September 10am – midday
- blood pressure check stations will be at our Active North Yorkshire venues on the following days and times:
- Harrogate Leisure and Wellbeing Hub – self-service blood pressure check stations available from Monday 8 September to Sunday 14 September. Blood pressure checks with centre staff available on Tuesday 9 September midday to 2pm and Thursday 11 September 1pm to 3pm
- Knaresborough Leisure and Wellbeing Hub – blood pressure checks and self-service blood pressure check stations available on Wednesday 10 September midday to 4pm, Friday 12 September 10am to 1pm and Sunday 14 September 11am to 1pm
- Starbeck Baths – self-service blood pressure check stations available Monday 8 September to Sunday 14 September during opening times
- Fairfax Community Wellbeing Hub – blood pressure checks and self-service blood pressure check stations available Monday 8 September to Friday 12 September from 10am until 4pm
- Stockwell Community Wellbeing Hub – blood pressure checks and self-service blood pressure check stations available from Monday 8 September to Friday 12 September from 9am to 3pm
- Thirsk Leisure and Wellbeing Hub – blood pressure checks available on Tuesday 9 September 10am to midday and Thursday 11 September 4pm to 6pm
- Stokesley Leisure and Wellbeing Hub – blood pressure checks available on Thursday 11 September 8am to 11am and Friday 12 September 11am to 2pm
- Craven Leisure and Wellbeing Hub - blood pressure checks available Monday 8 September 2pm to 5pm, Tuesday 9 September 7am to 8.30am and 5pm to 8pm, Wednesday 10 September 9am to midday, Thursday 11 September 7am to 8.30am and 5pm to 8pm, Friday 12 September 7am to 8.30am and 5pm to 8pm
- Selby Leisure and Wellbeing Hub – blood pressure checks available Tuesday 9 September 2pm to 4pm, Wednesday 10 September 9am to 1.30pm, Thursday 11 September 12.30am to 3pm, Saturday 13 September 11am to 1pm, Sunday 14 September 11am to 1pm
- Jennyfields Community Wellbeing Hub, blood pressure checks available Monday 8 September to Thursday 11 September 9.30am to 1pm and self-service blood pressure check stations available Monday 8 September to Thursday 11 September 1pm to 4pm
There will be guidance to help you understand your reading and whether you need to take any further action
- self-service blood pressure checks can be taken at the health kiosk in the main reception area of Whitby Hospital all week between 8am to 7.30pm. Full instructions are provided to help guide you through the process
- blood pressure checks are available from some pharmacies – find a local pharmacy offering this service
Pharmacies will provide free blood pressure checks to anyone who:
- is over the age of 40
- has not previously been identified as having hypertension or a related condition and
- has not had their blood pressure measured by a health professional within the previous six months
At the end of a consultation, where readings indicate:
- low blood pressure, the pharmacist will provide appropriate advice and may also refer the patient to their GP if there are any concerns
- normal blood pressure, the pharmacist will promote healthy behaviours
- high blood pressure, the pharmacist will offer Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) from the pharmacy and will also promote healthy behaviours
- very high blood pressure, the pharmacist will urgently refer the patient to see their GP within 24 hours and the pharmacist will inform the patient’s GP practice by NHS mail or via another locally agreed platform
All blood pressure readings are sent to the general practice from the community pharmacy so records can be updated and appropriate action taken.