Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Local Optical Committee chair, Julia Maiden, has outlined the wide-ranging benefits of a pilot that sees patients receive blood pressure checks in community optometry practices.
The pilot is currently underway in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, South Cumbria, Gloucestershire, Cheshire and Merseyside.
More than 4000 patients received blood pressure readings in optometry practices in the first eight months of a hypertension pilot delivered by Primary Eyecare Services in partnership with NHS commissioners and local optical committees.
One in five patients were referred for further investigations following an abnormal reading, while 44 patients later received urgent medical intervention as a result.
Maiden told OT that the blood pressure checks can be performed by any trained member of staff.
“We have identified patients with extremely high blood pressure and we had one patient who was having a heart attack during the sight test,” she said.
“Her vision was feeling a bit odd, and she was not having any typical symptoms of a heart attack,” Maiden shared.
She added that the optometrist was able to arrange urgent care for the patient. Maiden said that while “only a handful” of patients have required urgent treatment, these interventions are critical for the individual patients.
“Those stories from those patients about those life-changing moments make our jobs worthwhile,” Maiden emphasised.
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SimonM07 October 2025
Where can this training be accessed, please?
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