MPs get their blood pressure checked

MEMBERS of Parliament had their blood pressure checked as part of a campaign by the South East Coast Ambulance (SECAmb) service.

Staff from the trust, which provides ambulance cover across Adur, Arun and Worthing, visited the House of Commons to raise awareness of stroke – the UK’s third biggest killer.

Matthew England, clinical quality manager at the trust, said: “High blood pressure increases the risk of a stroke, along with poor diet. I would urge people to take advantage of any blood pressure monitoring that is available in your area, or get it tested by your GP.”

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SECAmb was the first ambulance service to appoint a paramedic stroke lead. It also offers free blood pressure checks.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: “Since the launch of the campaign to offer free checks, thousands of people have been tested, sometimes with alarming results. On average, we have referred a quarter to their GP and taken two per cent of people straight to hospital with a dangerously high BP.”