The population of East Warrington Primary Care Network has high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with many living in areas of significant deprivation. We are passionate to improve the health of our patients and are determined to make sure everyone with high blood pressure is diagnosed and treated.
East Warrington PCN expressed an interest to participate (and was successful) in the CLEAR Living Well CVD prevention project commissioned by NHS England. The aim of the project is to enhance screening and identification of new cases of hypertension, standardise and streamline hypertension management and improve treatment rates through implementing new pathways.
The project started in 2022 and phase 2 was rolled out in August 2024. This involved using a new approach to annual blood pressure reviews, using digital methods (text messages, online forms) to communicate with patients.
This has a number of benefits such as:
- Stops patients having to call the surgery and wait on hold to arrange appointments and speeds up the review process.
- Allows patients to send us results at times more convenient to them, without needing time off work to attend appointments.
- It increases the number of face-to-face appointments available with our doctors and nurses. This allows patients to access us when they need us most.