The event, attended by over 40 MPs and Lords, was organised by leading community pharmacy chain Lloydspharmacy, in partnership with British Heart Foundation, and aimed to raise awareness of the importance of regularly monitoring your blood pressure.
One in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure and many people aren't aware they have the condition, which means they are increasing the chance of becoming seriously ill if they continue with an unhealthy lifestyle. Often dubbed 'the silent killer', high blood pressure can have no symptoms until it has become extremely severe. Left unchecked it can lead to a stroke or heart attack. If left untreated it can also damage other organs such as kidneys and eyes.
Graham said of the initiative 'People are working harder, longer hours and are living more stressful lives. We know that the public are taking unnecessary risks by failing to get their blood pressure checked and it's commendable that Lloydspharmacy offers such a vital health screening and lifestyle advisory service. Pharmacists have a significant role to play addressing public health issues in the community. I hope this encourages my constituents to follow suit and take advantage of the convenient health services which are available in their local pharmacy.'
Ronan Brett, Lloydspharmacy's head of professional and external relations commented 'We are delighted that Graham was able to attend the event to hear about how community pharmacy is leading the way in providing accessible health services to the public in their local communities. At Lloydspharmacy we have been championing public health initiatives in our pharmacy consultation rooms since 2003 and have conducted millions of tests, from blood pressure to diabetes. These and the many other pharmacy services we offer help support the public in managing their own health and wellbeing. Our work can allow other health professionals to focus on more acute conditions and something as simple as a quick blood pressure check can stop someone from developing a serious health problem in the first place.'