Around 1 in 4 adults in the UK have high blood pressure, but many don’t know it. It can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Knowing what your blood pressure numbers mean can save your life.

You can get your blood pressure checked at AR Pharmacy without seeing a GP.

Who can get a free blood pressure check

You can get a free blood pressure check if you:

  • are aged 40 or over
  • live in England

You cannot get a free blood pressure check if you:

  • already have high blood pressure
  • have had your blood pressure checked by a healthcare professional in the past 6 months

If you are not eligible for a free blood pressure check, our staff can offer a test, starting from £1. You can also buy home blood pressure machines from around £20. Speak to a member of staff for advice.

you get your blood pressure checked

A pharmacist, or member of the pharmacy team, will wrap a blood pressure cuff around your upper arm to measure your blood pressure. They will then share the result with you.

Depending on the result, they might:

  • give you advice to support healthy living
  • give you a blood pressure monitor to take home with you and return later
  • advise you to see a GP

If you’re registered with a GP surgery, your blood pressure reading will be added to your GP health record. It will not be shared with anyone unless your blood pressure is very high or very low and you need urgent medical help.

Find out more about blood pressure tests at https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/blood-pressure-test/

How to get a blood pressure check

This service is available from all our branches as a walk in service.

If you are advised to take home blood pressure readings, you may need to return to collect the device if they are being loaned to other patients.