Community blood pressure and health checks

Our Community Outreach Vaccination and Health team, together with our One Gloucestershire health and care partners, are supporting the Blood Pressure UK campaign, ‘Know Your Numbers’, all year round, in a bid to reduce heart attacks and stroke.

The team are currently visiting locations across Gloucestershire, offering people simple health checks, including blood pressure, and chatting to them about simple changes they can make to their lifestyle, such as stopping smoking, improving their diet or increasing exercise.

Community blood pressure and health checks
High blood pressure is a major cause of heart attacks and stroke. Around one in three adults have high blood pressure, but many don’t realise it because it often doesn’t have any symptoms until it’s too late.

The Know your Numbers campaign urges everyone, particularly those aged 40 and over, to get a blood pressure (BP) check to find out their numbers and start making healthy lifestyle changes or taking medicines if needed to help bring their blood pressure down.

There are several ways for people to access a BP check, including at a local pharmacy, at a community drop-in event, or at their GP surgery. Some people may also wish to check their BP at home with a home blood pressure monitor.

The Outreach Vaccination and Health team delivered more than 1,250 BP checks at community drop-in events in 2023/24, with almost 150 of those people referred to their GP practice, either due to their blood pressure results or other reasons which came up during health checks.

The team also chat to people about simple changes they can make to their lifestyle, such as stopping smoking, improving their diet or increasing exercise and signposting to further support if needed.

Find out more about the Know Your Numbers campaign in Gloucestershire and how to access a BP check.

In Gloucestershire, prevention and increasing the early identification of high blood pressure and supporting those with a diagnosis to manage their condition are important priorities. That’s why we’re supporting the Know Your Numbers campaign all year round.

Oonagh Wilson, Clinical Lead, Community Outreach Vaccination and Health team, said: “The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have your blood pressure checked. All adults over 40 years old are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years. Getting this done is easy and could save your life.”

How to access a blood pressure check:

  • At a community health outreach team event – see dates and locations below
  • At a pharmacy – use the NHS website to find a pharmacy close to you
  • At your local GP surgery – some GP surgeries have a blood pressure machine in their waiting room, or you may be able to book a check with a member of the surgery team
  • You can also check your blood pressure yourself with a home blood pressure monitor – see below.

Dates and locations

Our Community Outreach Vaccination and Health team will be offering health checks at the following locations:

Tuesday 26 August 2025 - Moreton-in-Marsh

Time: 10am-12pm

Location: North Cotswold Foodbank

Address: Congregational Church, Oxford Street, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0LA

Wednesday 27 August 2025 - Frampton on Severn

Time: 10am-12pm

Location: Cadbury Hall Community Centre

Address: Lake Lane, Frampton on Severn GL2 7HG

Thursday 28 August 2025 - Coleford

Time: 1pm-3pm

Location: Forest Carers Mental Health Support Group

Address: The Main Place, Old Station Way, Coleford GL16 8RH

Friday 29 August 2025 - University of Gloucestershire open day

Time: 10am-2pm

Location: City Campus (old Debenhams building)

Address: King’s Square, Gloucester GL1 1AU

Wednesday 3 September 2025 - Cheltenham

Time: 11am-2pm

Location: Caring for Communities and People (CCP) Pantry

Address: 340 High Street, Cheltenham GL50 3JF

Thursday 4 September 2025 - Wotton-under-Edge

Time: 10am-1pm

Location: Keepers Hub Wotton

Address: Symm Lane, Wotton-under-Edge GL12 7BD

Friday 5 September 2025 - Gloucester City Centre

Time: 10am-2pm

Location: The Cross (outside HSBC)

Address: Gloucester GL1 2AP

Friday 5 September 2025 - Moreton in Marsh

Time: 10am-2pm

Location: Moreton Show

Address: The Moreton Showground is situated off the A429, just north of Moreton-in-Marsh town. Click here for a map>

Monday 8 September 2025 - Kingsway/Quedgeley, Gloucester

Time: 9.30am-3.30pm

Location: B&M, Kingsway

Address: Kingsway Business Park, Quedgeley GL2 2SN

Tuesday 9 September 2025 - Cheltenham

Time: 9.30am-3.30pm

Location: Rissington Cricket Club

Address: Great Rissington, Cheltenham GL54 2LP

Wednesday 10 September 2025 - Cheltenham

Time: 9.30am-3.30pm

Location: Hester’s Way Shopping Parade

Address: Coronation Square, Cheltenham

Thursday 11 September 2025 - Gloucester

Time: 9.30am-3.30pm

Location: King’s Square

Address: Gloucester City Centre, GL1 1AD

Friday 12 September 2025 - Tewkesbury

Time: 9.30am-3.30pm

Location: Morrisons superstore

Address: Ashchurch Road, Tewkesbury GL20 8AB

Saturday 13 September 2025 - Jama Al-Karim Mosque, Gloucester

Time: 10am-2pm

Location: Jama Al-Karim Mosque

Address: 2D All Saints’ Road, Gloucester GL1 4EE

Sunday 14 September 2025 - Frampton on Severn

Time: 9.30am-3.30pm

Location: Frampton Country Fair

Address: Frampton Court Estate, The Green, Frampton on Severn GL2 7EP

Monday 15 September 2025 - Coleford

Time: 10am-2pm

Location: Coleford Clock Tower

Address: Market Place, Coleford GL16 8AW – find us on the information bus with Gloucestershire Carers Hub

Tuesday 16 September 2025 - Cheltenham

Time: 11am-2pm

Location: Cheltenham Open Door

Address: Unit 3, St George’s Business Park, Alstone Lane, Cheltenham GL51 8HF

Wednesday 17 September 2025 - North Nibley

Time: 10am-12pm

Location: Keepers North Nibley

Address: North Nibley Chapel, Barrs Lane, North Nibley, Dursley GL11 6DT

Friday 19 September 2025 - Gloucester

Time: 10.30am-12.30pm

Location: Together at Matson

Address: Redwell Centre, Redwell Road, Matson, Gloucester GL4 6JG

Friday 26 September 2025 - Stroud

Time: 11am-2pm

Location: Stroud Trinity Rooms (Main Hall)

Address: Field Road, Stroud GL5 2HZ

Check your blood pressure yourself

Home monitoring can be a really useful way of keeping track of your blood pressure. To make sure you get reliable readings, it’s important to use a monitor that’s suitable for you and that you know how to use it.

Find out more about home blood pressure monitoring on the Blood Pressure UK website, or speak to a pharmacist about what type of monitor may best suit your needs.

Find out more about getting a blood pressure test.

‘How a simple blood pressure check saved my life’

Amanda's story

I am so grateful to the Outreach team. By offering me the opportunity to have a blood pressure check that day on the ward, they have made me aware of my condition and possibly saved my life.

Amanda is a healthcare assistant on Mulberry Ward at Charlton Lane in Cheltenham.

 The Outreach Health and Vaccination team visited the hospital recently, offering colleagues the opportunity to have blood pressure and health checks.

 Amanda recalls: “I took up the offer of a blood pressure check when the team visited Mulberry Ward. I was told my blood pressure was high at 166/116, and they advised I contact my GP.

 “So, I sent a message to my GP practice, and they called me back. Initially I was prescribed medication – a calcium channel blocker – and asked to attend the surgery for an ECG (electrocardiogram).

 “While I was at the surgery the practice nurse took my blood pressure manually and was very concerned, as it was 224/110. My GP asked me to complete four days of blood pressure readings, every morning and evening, and send the results into the surgery.

 “My blood pressure remained high. The first (or top) number, the systolic pressure, was in the 190s. So, I was prescribed an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, and my other medication was increased. Again, I was asked to record my blood pressure over four days and send my GP the results.

 “At the time of writing my blood pressure is 191/98. I have further GP appointments and blood tests scheduled, my medication has been increased, and I have to provide my GP with another set of blood pressure readings in a couple of weeks.

 “Through all of this experience I have felt absolutely fine. I’ve not experienced any symptoms – no headaches, blurred vison, or chest pain. I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I don’t smoke or drink, I am vegetarian and eat a healthy balanced diet. I am slightly overweight but have lost two stone since February. So, I was totally shocked to discover my blood pressure was so dangerously high.

 “I am so grateful to the Outreach team. By offering me the opportunity to have a blood pressure check that day on the ward, they have made me aware of my condition and possibly saved my life.  Now I encourage all my friends and family to get their blood pressure checked.”

Phil's story

‘Thanks to the team’s persistence, my urgent health condition was identified’

Phil (aged 37) happened to be holidaying in the Cotswolds on the day of their visit. He recalls: “There was an NHS van parked in Stow Market Square offering free blood pressure checks. Despite my initial reservations the team were persistent in checking me. They found that my blood pressure was extremely high.

“Following their advice, I managed to get an urgent appointment with my GP, had blood tests and a 24-hour blood pressure monitor fitted.

“I hadn’t been experiencing any symptoms, so was totally unaware of my underlying health condition.

“Thanks to the team’s persistence, my urgent health condition was identified, and I am now on medication to control it. I am extremely grateful.”

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