Patients can ask to borrow a blood pressure (BP) machine from us free of charge to use in the waiting room. Lend them a BP machine and a laminated instruction sheet. There should also be slips with space for patients to write 3 readings down. Please enter their BP readings in EMIS. Add a task to the Jotform doctor session for that day.
If patients wish to borrow a BP machine, they will need to leave a £20 deposit, refundable on return. Please add a code to their EMIS record so we can search for patients who have our machines.
Add the 3 readings as FREE TEXT to EMIS. Add the patient’s name to the Jotform list for the doctor that day. The doctor should CODE the best of the 3 readings and action.
Please see this link and share with patients. How to take BP readings.
The protocol below is for Nurses and HCAs:
High BP – not known to have hypertension
If BP is > 140/90 then repeat it 3 times. Record the lowest result.
Also record the pulse in beats per minute and comment on whether or not it is irregular or regular. If the pulse is irregular and less than 100 beats per minute and they are NOT already known to have Atrial Fibrillation then arrange a routine ECG and send a task to the doctor who sees them most often to inform them of this. If the pulse is irregular and over 100 beats per minute then inform the doctor on telephone triage.
If the lowest BP is between 140/90 and 159/99 send a task to the doctor who sees the patient most often informing them of this.
If the lowest BP is 160/100 or greater please discuss with the on-call doctor. The doctor will then decide whether any medication is needed straight away.
Low BP – not known to have hypertension
If BP is lower than 100/60 ask the patient if they have any symptoms such as feeling dizzy or unwell and inform the doctor on telephone triage who will assess the patient.
For patients who ARE known to have hypertension
High BP – known to have hypertension
If BP is > 140/90 then repeat it 3 times. Record the lowest result.
If the lowest BP is between 140/90 and 159/99 send a task to the doctor who seems to see them most informing them of this.
If the lowest BP is 160/100 or greater please ask the patient when they last took their antihypertensive medication and discuss with the on-call doctor. The doctor will then decide whether any medication change is needed straight away.
Low BP – known to have hypertension
If BP is lower than 100/60 ask the patient if they have any symptoms such as feeling dizzy or unwell and inform the on call doctor who will assess the patient.