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
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 – 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.