Know Your Numbers Week underway for 2025

Know Your Numbers Week kicks off today and will run until 14 September to help raise awareness around the importance of blood pressure checks, including in pharmacies.

This annual campaign, which is in its 25^th year, is organised by the Blood Pressure UK charity and aims to reach those who do not realise they have high blood pressure so that they can get the treatment and support they need.

This year’s theme is ‘looking for the missing millions’ – referring to the five million UK adults aged 18-64 who may have undiagnosed high blood pressure, according to the charity.

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A package of communications materials on blood pressure is available on the Campaign Resource Centre, including assets from the former community pharmacy ‘get your blood pressure checked’ campaign.

Healthcare teams have been encouraged to use these materials to promote NHS blood pressure services.

According to NHS England, around one third of adults in the UK have high blood pressure which, if untreated, can lead to heart attack and stroke.

‘Knowing your numbers gives you the power to act – whether that’s eating less salt, being more active, or starting medication if needed,’ the campaign website said.

In May 2025, over 250,000 blood pressure checks were carried out by pharmacy and appliance contractors in England, according to latest figures by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).

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The NHS Blood Pressure Check Service began in October 2021 and by June 2022, more than 100,000 blood pressure checks had been done by community pharmacy contractors.

In 2023, it was announced that all suitably trained members of the pharmacy team would be able to deliver blood pressure checks.

Despite this, ‘too many’ were still unaware of pharmacy blood pressure checks – almost half of adults over 40 (44%), according to an NHS England survey conducted last year.

The survey also found that in terms of priorities, checking blood pressure ranked lower than getting the car MOT’d, the boiler serviced and renewing insurances.

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In November 2024, GP leaders in England voted in favour of terminating pharmacy blood pressure checks with ‘immediate effect’.

The motion, which was debated at the British Medical Associations (BMA) Local Medical Committee (LMC) Conference, suggested that pharmacy blood pressure checks created ‘more work’ for GPs and that the money should be redirected into pharmacy dispensing fees.