Know Your Numbers Week brings free blood pressure checks to Oxfordshire libraries
Residents are being encouraged to get their blood pressure checked in a new initiative at Oxfordshire County Council’s libraries.
As part of Blood Pressure UK’s annual Know Your Numbers Week, held this year from 7 to 13 September, people can check their blood pressure at a dedicated ‘pressure station’ in any of the county’s 44 libraries.
People with undiagnosed and uncontrolled high blood pressure are more at risk from serious health issues such as stroke and heart attack.
Pressure stations will be available to anybody to use, whether they have been asked to do so by a doctor, or simply curious.
Councillor Kate Gregory, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Inequalities, said: “High blood pressure often has no symptoms, so the only way to know if your reading is high is to have it checked to lower your risk of serious health issues.
“Our libraries are trusted, welcoming spaces at the heart of communities across Oxfordshire, so they are a natural place to host these free pressure stations. This is a completely free and easy way to check your blood pressure, just drop into one of our libraries during the week where teams will be on hand to help. It takes just a couple of minutes but could change your life.”
The initiative was coordinated by Alet Ransom, Primary Care Network Pharmacy Technician and Cardiovascular Disease Champion, who worked alongside Oxfordshire County Council’s public health team and library service to develop the pressure stations and make it easier for people to check their blood pressure in familiar community settings.
She said: “I’m immensely proud to have helped bring this project from an idea into reality.
“The aim was always to make it easier for people, whether library users or visitors to the area, to ‘know their numbers’ and, where needed, take the next step towards looking after their cardiovascular health.
“Knowing that the project is now being taken forward and rolled out across the county’s libraries is hugely rewarding, and I’m excited that it will give many more people the opportunity to access this simple but potentially life-changing service.”
Anyone found to have a high reading will be offered advice on simple steps they can take and encouraged to seek further support from their GP or local pharmacy if needed.
Residents can find their nearest library and check opening times on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.
Find out more about the Know Your Numbers Week campaign by visiting Blood Pressure UK’s website.
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