The NHS in England is set to introduce free finger-prick blood tests for cholesterol at high street pharmacies. This initiative, the first of its kind globally, is part of a plan to reduce deaths from heart disease and stroke by a quarter over the next decade.
The seven-minute tests will be available at participating pharmacies as part of a national rollout. Individuals aged 40 to 84, who are not pregnant and have not had a blood test in the past year, will be eligible to walk in and get tested.
Blood will be taken from a fingertip and analysed immediately. A pharmacist prescriber can then offer lifestyle advice and determine if treatments, such as statins, may be necessary. Patients will receive their results via email and will also be offered a blood pressure check.
David Webb, the chief pharmaceutical officer for England, stated that pharmacies could serve as a crucial first line of defence against serious illness. This rollout follows a successful pilot in north London, where nearly one in five patients were found to be at high risk of a heart attack or stroke within the next decade.
The first phase of the national rollout will see approximately 100 NHS pharmacies across England begin offering these checks from this autumn.