NHS to offer free high-street cholesterol tests in England

Checks at pharmacies for people aged 40 to 84 are aimed at identifying those at risk of heart attack or stroke

The NHS in England is to offer free finger-prick blood tests for cholesterol on the high street for the first time under plans to reduce heart disease and stroke deaths by a quarter within the next decade.

The seven-minute tests will be available at participating pharmacies as part of a national rollout to spot “ticking timebombs” earlier.

People 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 person’s fingertip using a lancet – a small, sharp medical tool used to prick the skin – and analysed immediately. A pharmacist prescriber can then provide lifestyle advice and determine whether any treatment, such as statins, may be needed.

Patients will receive a copy of their results by email. They will also be offered a blood pressure check as part of a clinical consultation with a pharmacist prescriber.

Details of the scheme – the first of its kind globally – were announced during the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress in Munich, the world’s largest heart conference.

David Webb, the chief pharmaceutical officer for England, said pharmacies could be a vital first line of defence against serious illness.

He said: “By making it easier for people to get a quick and convenient cholesterol health check on their local high street, we can spot ticking timebombs earlier, helping people take action, and prevent heart attacks and strokes before they happen.

“This is the latest in a series of initiatives involving pharmacies in delivering care previously only offered in GP surgeries as part of the 10-year health plan to bring care closer to where people live.”

The rollout follows a successful pilot in north London by Barts Health NHS trust in collaboration with UCLPartners and the cholesterol charity Heart UK, in which 2,493 patients had checks.

Nearly one in five patients (19%) were found to be at high risk of a heart attack or stroke within the next decade. These people were offered advice and referred for treatment. At least 88 people started taking statins as result.

In the first phase of the national rollout, about 100 NHS pharmacies across England will begin offering the checks from this autumn.

Dr Sotiris Antoniou, the clinical lead for the scheme at Barts Health, said: “By scaling this approach across England, we can support pharmacists to identify cardiovascular risk earlier and, importantly, act on the results through timely advice and treatment.

“This has the potential to improve outcomes and reduce health inequalities, particularly in communities where the burden of cardiovascular disease is greatest.”

Dr Rani Khatib, NHS England’s national specialty adviser for cardiovascular disease prevention, said everyone should strive to be aware of the most common risk factors for heart disease, including high cholesterol and blood pressure, and “know their numbers”.

“This initiative will help people manage their risk factors earlier and reduce their risk of having heart attacks or strokes,” he said.

Alison McGovern, a health minister, said it was “exactly the type of innovation” she wanted to see across the NHS. “We’re making it easier for people to spot potential problems earlier and take action to protect their health,” she said.

“Early detection can help prevent serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, helping people stay healthier for longer while reducing pressure on NHS services.”