§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department has contributed towards National Blood Pressure Testing Week 2003; and what targets have been set. [130112]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Department of Health has agreed to contribute the majority of the costs for the Blood Pressure Association's National Blood Pressure Testing Week 2003.
We were aiming for a minimum of 70,000 individuals in England to have their blood pressure checked during the week, but early estimates based upon a random sample of testing stations suggest that the numbers tested were double this figure.
524WBesides the benefit to individuals of knowing their blood pressure numbers, the National Blood Pressure Testing Week helps to extend public and professional awareness of the problem of high blood pressure people through local and national media coverage and promotion of the event.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department is doing to help people with uncontrolled blood pressure. [130116]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonUnder the proposed new general medical services (GMS) contract general practitioners will be expected to produce a register of patients detailing the percentage with coronary heart disease whose notes have a record of blood pressure in the previous 15 months, and also the percentage of patients with coronary disease, in whom the last blood pressure reading (measured in the last 15 months) is 150/90 or less. The standard for records has indicators for the recording of blood pressure in patients aged 45 and over.
Additionally, the Department of Health is taking action to help prevent high blood pressure—through our work to improve diet, particularly to reduce salt in the diet, and to increase physical activity.