Blood Pressure Services

Blood pressure is the force your heart uses to pump blood around your body. It is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and expressed as two numbers — for example, 120/80mmHg (said as “120 over 80”). The top number (systolic) measures the pressure when your heart beats; the bottom number (diastolic) measures the pressure when your heart rests between beats.¹

High blood pressure, known as hypertension, is when that pressure is consistently too high — typically at or above 140/90mmHg. It places extra strain on your heart, blood vessels, and organs, significantly increasing your risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.²

⚠️  Hypertension has no symptoms.

An estimated 5.5 million people in the UK are currently living with undiagnosed hypertension.³
A simple blood pressure check could be one of the most important health steps you take.

If you're due a blood pressure check, help is never far away. With Pearl Chemist Group branches in Banstead, Byfleet, Cannon Hill, Cobham, Earlsfield, Epsom, Merton, Mitcham, Morden, Northcote Road, Streatham, Tolworth, Tooting, Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Kingston upon Thames, and other nearby areas, there's likely a branch near you.

Blood pressure naturally fluctuates throughout the day depending on activity, stress, and other factors.⁴ That is why regular monitoring matters more than a single reading.

Source: NICE Guideline NG136 — Hypertension in adults: diagnosis and management.

Pearl Chemist Group pharmacies offer the NHS Blood Pressure Check Service (formally the NHS Community Pharmacy Hypertension Case-Finding Advanced Service) — completely free of charge to eligible patients.

The service has two stages: first, a clinic blood pressure check; and second, where clinically indicated, 24-hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM). All results are shared with your GP practice.⁵#5

ABPM is the clinically preferred method for confirming a diagnosis of hypertension, as recommended by NICE.¹⁰ It involves wearing a small, portable device — worn on a belt or around the waist, connected to a cuff on the upper arm — which takes automatic readings approximately every 30 minutes during the day and every 60 minutes at night, over a full 24-hour period.

This gives a far more accurate and complete picture of your blood pressure than a single clinic reading. Your pharmacist will fit the device, explain how to use it, and arrange a follow-up appointment to review results and discuss next steps — which may include lifestyle changes, medication, or referral to your GP.¹¹

If you do not qualify for the free NHS service, you can still access a blood pressure check at any Pearl Chemist Group pharmacy for just £7.50, payable in-store.

The check follows the same process, is carried out by our trained pharmacy team in a private consultation room, takes approximately 10–15 minutes, and you will receive a written copy of your results.

The following factors are known to increase your risk of developing hypertension:¹²

• Being aged 65 or over
• Having a family history of high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease
• Being overweight or obese
• Physical inactivity
• Being of Black African or Black Caribbean heritage
• Drinking alcohol above recommended limits (more than 14 units per week)¹³
• A diet high in salt
• Low intake of fruit and vegetables
• Smoking
• Poor or insufficient sleep
• High caffeine intake

The following individuals are not suitable for a standard blood pressure cuff measurement:

• Children under 16
• Those who have had a mastectomy
• Those who have had lymph nodes removed on the arm being measured
• Those with an arteriovenous fistula on the arm being measured

Pregnant women are generally excluded from the NHS service unless referred by their GP, in which case the service must be delivered in line with NICE guidance.¹⁴

The easiest way to get support, ask a question, or book a blood pressure check is through the Pearl Chemist Group app. It connects you directly to your local pharmacy team, lets you book appointments, and puts expert advice at your fingertips.