The NHS in England will provide free finger-prick cholesterol tests at participating high-street pharmacies for the first time, as part of plans to minimise deaths from cardiac disease and stroke by a quarter over the next decade.
The seven-minute tests will let individuals aged 40 to 84 to check their cholesterol without an appointment, provided they are not pregnant and have not had a blood test in 2025.
A pharmacist will take a little blood sample from the fingertip using a lancet and analyse it urgently.
Patients will receive their results by email and can also receive a blood pressure check during a consultation with a pharmacist prescriber. Based on the results, pharmacists can provide lifestyle advice and determine whether further treatment, including statins, may be required.
Patients will get their results by email and can get a blood pressure check during a consultation with a pharmacist prescriber.
The scheme was announced at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress in Munich and follows a pilot programme in North London involving Barts Health NHS Trust, UCLPartners and Heart UK.
During the pilot, 2,493 people received cholesterol checks, with nearly one in five discovered to have an increased risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke within the next decade.
At least 88 people subsequently started taking statins.
Nearly 100 NHS pharmacies across England are expected to begin offering the checks from this autumn.
Health officials stated the initiative could assist in detecting cardiovascular risks earlier, encourage timely treatment and minimise health inequalities, while making healthcare more accessible in local communities.
