Check your blood pressure with the Co-op

Free NHS blood pressure checks are available at all Lincolnshire Co-op pharmacies for anyone aged 40 and over not currently taking blood pressure medication. 

The Co-op is urging people to look after their health by taking advantage of walk-in checks, which can identify serious conditions before symptoms appear. 

Almost a third of people who received a free check with the Co-op during a 12-month period had worryingly high readings, which needed further investigation*.

Those patients were either offered a 24-hour blood pressure monitor – known as Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) - or were referred for a GP appointment within three weeks. The 24-hour ABPM is also a free service, and a high reading can mean a faster referral and quicker access to medication to help tackle the issue. 

Three per cent of the blood pressure checks resulted in an emergency, same-day GP referral*.

Lincolnshire Co-op’s Pharmacy Services Support Technician Willow Barker said: “This simple, free check can be a lifesaver. Left untreated, high blood pressure can cause serious conditions like strokes, hearts attacks, heart failure and kidney disease.

“There’s no appointment needed so you can fit it in around your life. You can just head into your local Lincolnshire Co-op pharmacy, and our expert teams will be able to help.”

The Co-op’s 43 pharmacies also offer a £25 Healthy Heart Check, which can assess a patient’s 10-year risk of having a heart attack or stroke. The finger-prick test will reveal a person’s heart age, and their total cholesterol level along with an in-depth cholesterol profile.

* Lincolnshire Co-op data comes from blood pressure checks carried out in pharmacies between January 2024 and December 2024.