§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received the Office of Health Economics' report "Mild Hypertension"; if he will 128W implement its recommendation that screening for high blood pressure, especially amongst males between the ages of 50 and 65 years, should be done in general practice under the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungA copy of the report has been received in the Department. The report suggests that there is an argument for general practitioners systematically to seek out male patients over the age of 50 with blood pressures which are consistently high and persuade them to accept antihypertensive therapy and general advice on diet, smoking and stress, even if they are experiencing no symptoms. The question of the right approach to identifying and treating cases of hypertension in adult males is a matter for the medical profession and for individual general practitioners. Certainly many general practitioners already routinely take the opportunity to record the blood pressure and initiate the treatment if necessary of males in this age group when they seek medical attention for any reason.