Blood Pressure Review

You will be invited for a blood pressure check, twice per year. During your annual review we will also carry out your annual blood tests.

If you are due for your blood pressure check/review, and have your own blood pressure machine at home, please complete our Home Blood Pressure Monitoring (HBPM) form and return to the practice by email. If you are due for your annual review, you will still need to book an appointment for your annual blood tests.

You will need to take a blood pressure reading, morning and evening, for 5 days, and return the readings to the practice. If you are unable to load our forms above, please make a note of your readings in a simple table, and send to the practice.

  • Take your blood pressure in the morning and in the evening
  • Make sure you are sitting comfortably
  • Take the blood pressure 3 times each sitting, leave 1 minute between each time
  • Enter the lowest blood pressure you take into the HBPM
  • Systolic (sys) is the first number (the highest one) and diastolic (dia) is the second number

Once we have received your readings, your readings will be reviewed by the Doctor. You will be informed if a follow-up Consultation review is required.

24-hour Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)

The practice provides 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) service to our patients, and to anyone registered with a GP in Stockport.

Patients who are suspected to have Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) can be referred for 24 hour blood pressure monitoring by their GP after initial investigations.

It is normal for blood pressure to change during the day as it responds to anxiety, exercise, sleep or any blood pressure medication that you may be taking.

As a result, taking a single blood pressure measurement is not always a very accurate way of checking your blood pressure.

What should I expect?

Following an initial consultation with a Doctor or Nurse, you will be provided with the 24hr monitor to wear and a further appointment will be made for the return visit the day after, to return the machine and read the results.

We aim to send your results back to your own GP within 2 weeks of your test.

Advice about wearing the blood pressure monitor

  • The blood pressure monitor has been fitted to enable your doctor to see what your blood pressure is during a normal day. It is important that you carry on as usual; you will be able to go to work, go shopping, and do housework, etc while the monitor is fitted.
  • The monitor will take your blood pressure every 30 minutes during the day and every hour during the night.
  • The monitor may take 1 or 2 readings each time.
  • Try to keep your arm straight when the monitor is recording as it should feel more comfortable and enable the machine to take a reading more easily.
  • The monitor may feel quite tight when a reading is take; this is normal, the cuff goes down quickly, within 20-30 seconds.
  • Should the monitor cause bruising to the arm or pain it should be removed.
  • If the monitor has not taken a reading for several hours, please contact the surgery for advice.
  • Please do not get the equipment wet.
  • If you intend to drive whilst wearing the monitor we would advise that you inform your car insurance provider.

Non-urgent advice: Please Note

Please return the equipment at the time arranged as it will be needed for another patient.

Whilst wearing the monitor, it is important to note that:

  • You will be unable to have a bath or a shower during the 24-hour period you are wearing the monitor.
  • It would be helpful if you could wear a loose-fitting short‑sleeved top and a belt of some kind if possible.
  • If you intend to drive whilst wearing the monitor we would advise that you inform your car insurance provider.