Blood pressure checks made available in pharmacies could save two thousand lives, health officials have said.

All NHS chemists in England will be offering the service to people aged 40 and over from October.

It is estimated that some 3,700 strokes and 2,500 heart attacks could be prevented and around 2,000 lives saved in the next five years by the full rollout, according to NHS England.

And an estimated extra 250,000 people could receive life-saving treatment for hypertension if around 2.5 million people get their blood pressure checked in pharmacies.

NHS national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said the checks will result in “more rapid detection of killer conditions and quicker treatment for patients who need it”.

He added: “Pharmacies are in the heart of communities and so they are ideally placed to provide these convenient checks – so, if you are worried about your health, please do get tested – it could save your life.

“The NHS Long Term Plan aims to crack down on killer conditions and this action by pharmacy teams will go a long way in helping us achieve our ambitions of saving more lives.”

Pharmacists will be able to offer blood pressure tests to people showing symptoms and give clinical and lifestyle advice.

They will then record the information in a process hoped to speed up access to care by joining up services and treatment with GPs and other local services.

As part of the new contract with the NHS, local chemists can also offer services to help smokers quit, by offering advice and care to those who have recently come out of hospital.

Dr Shahed Ahmad, national clinical director for cardiovascular disease prevention, said community pharmacists are “ideally placed to deliver this life-saving work”.

He added: “Cardiovascular disease claims 136,000 lives a year and is a major cause of health inequalities, with about half of heart attacks and strokes are associated with high blood pressure.

“The detection and control of high blood pressure is one of the best things we can do to save lives and reduce health inequalities.”

Dr Keith Ridge, chief pharmaceutical officer at NHS England, said: “Pharmacy teams have already played an important part in the NHS COVID vaccination programme, the biggest and most successful in the health service’s history, and – with this new service being rolled out across the country – they will have a vital new role in delivering life-saving blood pressure checks in the heart of our communities.”

John Maingay, director of policy and influencing at the British Heart Foundation, described the rollout as “a brilliant initiative that will help to save lives, prevent heart and circulatory diseases, and empower people to make healthier lifestyle choices”.

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