Preventing Heart Attacks and Strokes at Scale - the National Blood Pressure Optimisation Programme
High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart attack and stroke. Treatment to lower blood pressure is highly effective at preventing these life-changing events, reducing demand on hospital services, and reducing health and social care costs. Despite this, many people with hypertension are not on optimal treatment, and optimisation rates have deteriorated considerably during the pandemic
The Blood Pressure Optimisation Programme led by the Academic Health Science Networks will support practices in the management of hypertension to prevent heart attacks and strokes at scale and reduce health inequalities. It will do this by helping GP teams to transform the way care is delivered using the UCLPartners Proactive Care Frameworks. There are two core elements to the Frameworks:
- Risk stratification and prioritisation: search tools built for EMIS and SystmOne that risk stratify patients with hypertension so that clinicians can prioritise in their work – ensuring that everyone is offered appropriate care but that those at greatest risk are seen earliest.
- Systematic support for patient education and self-management: extensive resources for staff such as healthcare assistants to help patients understand their conditions and to care for themselves – improving quality of care and freeing up clinician capacity.
