The practice has a new waiting room blood pressure machine. This machine is a highly sophisticated device which takes account of the diameter of your arm.

This machine is validated and calibrated, and is accurate to within 1mm.

You do need to be shown how to use the Blood Pressure machine the first time when you will have the blood pressure checked in both arms. Please put ten minutes aside for this. You should therefore arrive ten minutes early to any appointment.

You are welcome to check your blood pressure using the machine when you are in the surgery. Two readings per year are about right for well controlled blood pressure, or one reading every 4 years for people without blood pressure problems.

Please let the receptionists know that you would like it checking the first time. You can just check it yourself using the machine for future readings but please sit down for 5 minutes before using it.

There are two possible outcomes, depending on whether you have an appointment or not.

Where you do not have an appointment to see anyone afterwards, please pass the printout to the receptionist who will note your details on the result and pass it to the Blood Pressure Nurse. You will be contacted if any further action is required. Please check that you are told which arm to have your blood pressure checked in future. The blood pressure does vary from arm to arm and it is best to always use the same arm for future readings (whether done by somebody, at home, or using the waiting room machine).

Where you do have an appointment with somebody immediately afterwards then please bring the printout to your appointment when the doctor or nurse will advise you about the level.