Evaluation of a hypertension case finding pilot in Hertfordshire and West Essex

The Research and Innovation Hub has been awarded £11,000 by the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (H&WE ICB) to evaluate a local pilot delivering blood pressure checks across 13 community optometry and dental settings. The service forms part of a wider NHS England initiative to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) by improving the detection of undiagnosed hypertension, particularly in high-risk and underserved populations. Locally, the pilot supports the ICB’s medium-term plan for CVD prevention and tackling health inequalities. The evaluation, running from November 2024 to July 2025, will assess the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of the service. Data collection includes patient surveys, interviews with patients and staff, and practice-level service data. A final report will be produced in summer 2025 to inform local decisions on the future of the service and contribute to national learning on community-based screening models.

This project looks at how well a new local service for checking blood pressure in opticians and dental practices is working. It’s being run in Hertfordshire and West Essex as part of a national NHS programme to spot high blood pressure earlier and help prevent heart disease , especially in people who might not get regular health checks. The evaluation is being carried out by the Research and Innovation Hub and is funded by Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, which plans NHS services in the area. The project will run until July 2025. We’re collecting feedback from patients and staff, and looking at how many checks were done and what happened afterwards. The results will help decide how the service might work better in the future.