NICE B.P.guidelines could bankrupt NHS.

[catherinecherub]

G.P.'s are not very happy with the new NICE guidelines on blood pressure.

"G.P's. should offer ambulatory B.P. monitoring for any patient with a clinical B.P. of 140/90 or higher.....".
http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?s ... 129850&c=2

 

[phoenix]

I note the reply from one GP

This NICE recommendation is only catching up with what has been best practice for some years. We've been doing this for over 10yrs now. Most of our suspected hypertension patients in our practice have 24hr ABPMs

When by diabetologue was unhappy with my BP, (It always goes up when she tests) she organised one of these for me. As it was the cardio who read the results said I was fine and didn't need any medication other than the 'mandatory' low dose Aprovel I already took for kidney protection. That saved me unnecessary medication and that must also have partly offset the cost of the machine

 

[ClaireG 06]

I can only begin to imagine the pressure etc put on staff and resources. As my blood pressure was very high when i was in hospital a couple of weeks ago, one of the tests i am having to have is a 24hr blood pressure monitor.