Tesco is offering 500,000 free NHS blood pressure checks at its in-store pharmacies.

As part of the British Heart Foundation’s Heart Month, Tesco said it launched its initiative after conducting research on over 2000 British adults which found that one of the main reasons for not getting a blood pressure check, especially in those between 25 and 44, was a lack of time.

"High blood pressure doesn’t often present with symptoms but can lead to heart attack, stroke, or kidney damage, so it's important you get your blood pressure checked regularly,” said professor Bryan Williams OBE, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation. “Our hearts are precious and this Heart Month we're proud to be working with Tesco to make blood pressure checks and health information readily available to help millions of people improve their health and prevent countless heart attacks and strokes.”

The supermarket’s utilisation of its pharmacies follows the launch of a new service from Boots which will allow customers to access treatment and advice for seven common conditions from Boots pharmacies, without the need for a prescription from a GP.

The recently launched service will mean patients will now be able to be treated by pharmacists at Boots for sinusitis, sore throat, earache, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles, or an uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women – a move which the NHS said will help save 10 million GP appointments by next year.

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