NHS Community Pharmacy Hypertension Case-Finding Service: Blood Pressure Checks and Follow-up
A comprehensive guide to delivering the NHS Community Pharmacy Hypertension Case-Finding Advanced Service. Covers inclusion criteria, the clinic check and ABPM two-stage process, BP thresholds and urgent referral triggers, BIHS-validated equipment requirements, GP notification, payment structure and clinical governance.
Hypertension affects approximately one in three adults in England and is the leading risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. Millions of people have high blood pressure and don't know it. The NHS Community Pharmacy Hypertension Case-Finding Advanced Service puts community pharmacy at the centre of one of the NHS's most important cardiovascular prevention programmes — finding those undiagnosed cases before they become clinical emergencies.
This course gives pharmacy teams everything they need to deliver the service safely, confidently and in full compliance with the NHS England service specification (v2.3). It covers eligibility criteria, the two-stage clinic check and ABPM process, blood pressure thresholds and what to do at each level, GP notification requirements, payment structure, equipment obligations and the quality governance framework.
What you'll learn
- ✓Service aims, objectives and how the service fits within CPCF and CVD prevention
- ✓Inclusion and exclusion criteria — who to offer, who to exclude, and GP-requested referrals
- ✓BIHS-validated equipment requirements and consultation room standards
- ✓Stage 1 clinic check — accurate measurement technique, BP thresholds and actions at each level
- ✓Urgent referral for very high readings (≥180/110 mmHg) — what to do and document
- ✓Stage 2 ABPM — fitting, patient instructions, the 14-reading requirement, interpretation and GP referral
- ✓GP notification requirements (all readings, including normal) and digital recording via PharmOutcomes or equivalent
- ✓Payment structure — set-up fee, per clinic check, per ABPM, incentive payments via MYS
"Community pharmacy is well placed to identify people who may have high blood pressure and who are not currently known to primary care — reducing their risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure." — NHS England, Hypertension Case-Finding service specification
Two stages, one mission
The service operates in two stages. Stage 1 (clinic check) identifies people with elevated BP readings and offers them Stage 2 (ambulatory blood pressure monitoring). ABPM provides the gold-standard confirmation of hypertension needed for GP diagnosis — without pharmacy completing both stages, patients who might otherwise wait months for a GP appointment can have their hypertension confirmed and treatment started far sooner.
👤 Who this is for
Community pharmacy owners, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and suitably trained support staff in England delivering or planning to deliver the NHS Community Pharmacy Hypertension Case-Finding Advanced Service. Suitable for new providers starting the service and experienced teams refreshing their knowledge of the updated v2.3 specification and CPE guidance.
⚠️ England only / check current version. The Hypertension Case-Finding service is an England NHS advanced service. The specification (v2.3), inclusion criteria, payment rates and incentive structures are updated periodically — always check the current NHS England specification, NHSBSA overview and CPE guidance at cpe.org.uk before delivering any consultation. This course reflects the service as described in specification v2.3 and the January 2024 CPE webinar. This course does not constitute clinical or legal advice.
This course includes
Course Curriculum
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Hypertension Case-Finding & Blood Pressure Checks in Community Pharmacy
A practical, service-ready course for community pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and trained support staff delivering the NHS Community Pharmacy Hypertension Case-Finding / Blood Pressure Check Service. Covers the two-stage pathway, eligibility, BP measurement and ABPM, documentation and claims, and how to integrate the service sustainably into everyday pharmacy workflow.
NHS Pharmacy First: Clinical Pathways & Workflow for Community Pharmacy Teams
A practical, service-ready course for community pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, trained support staff and pharmacy managers in England. Covers all seven Pharmacy First clinical pathways, referral routes and GP notification, consultation structure and red-flag recognition, team roles, workflow integration and service quality improvement.
This course includes
- 📚 5 modules · 11 lessons
- ⏱ 2h self-paced learning
- 📥 3 downloadable templates & checklists
- 📝 Knowledge assessment quiz
- 🔁 Unlimited quiz re-attempts
- 🏆 Verified certificate on completion
- ♾️ Lifetime access to content
Downloadable templates
- Hypertension Clinic Check Consultation Checklist
- ABPM Process Checklist
- Hypertension Case-Finding Implementation Plan Template
Templates unlock after enrolment
Standards & currency
Written by UK pharmacy experts. Always verify against current official guidance before clinical use.
Certificate of Achievement
Complete this course and earn a personalised, printable certificate — with your name, course title and a unique certificate number. Suitable as CPD evidence for GPhC revalidation and GPhC inspection records.