A pilot cholesterol point of care testing (POCT) service in North East London pharmacies has demonstrated the “significant potential” of community pharmacy in strengthening “early detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease” (CVD), CPE has revealed.
The pilot, which ran in seven pharmacies between January and October 2025, was commissioned by Barts Health NHS trust to help combat “declining CVD detection rates following the Covid pandemic”.
CPE said the cholesterol checks were delivered “alongside existing NHS blood pressure checks” to provide “cardiovascular prevention closer to home”.
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The service supported “556 patients”, it added, with most in their 40s and 50s and over half identifying as Asian.
“A large majority of patients lived in areas with high deprivation, indicating effective reach into communities traditionally facing barriers to preventive healthcare,” the body said.
The pilot found that “around one in five” or 111 patients had an “elevated cardiovascular risk”, while fourteen had “critically high cholesterol levels”.
Some 27 tests showed signs of “potential underlying metabolic conditions”, 24 people were prescribed statins after the testing, and others agreed to “healthy lifestyle changes”.
“Strengthened collaboration”
CPE explained that participating pharmacies were “equipped with lipid testing devices and trained to conduct non-fasting lipid testing” and interpret the results.
“Pharmacists interpreted results during the same consultation, provided personalised lifestyle guidance and referred patients with elevated risk to their GP for further evaluation and potential lipid lowering therapy,” it said.
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It added that this integrated pathway “strengthened collaboration between community pharmacy and other primary care providers” - and aligns with “national ambitions to increase CVD risk assessments in adults aged 40–74 and reduce health inequalities”.
“The streamlined process enabled earlier intervention and improved access to preventive care - particularly for underserved groups,” the body noted.
Pharmacists’ views
CPE said pharmacists “reported high levels of satisfaction with both the initial training and ongoing support provided by Barts Health NHS Trust”.
Pharmacy teams also said the service helped residents “better understand and act on their cardiovascular health” and that “test procedures and patient interactions [were] generally smooth and well received”.
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But they noted that the pilot presented several challenges, including that the “initial implementation phase was time-consuming” and could “limit future expansion without additional support”.
Some consultations were more time-consuming due to “language barriers” and poor “health literacy”, CPE added, and some patients were hesitant about starting statin therapy “despite clear discussions about test results and associated risks”.
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The body said patients reported “overwhelmingly positive experiences”, highlighting the “convenience and speed” of the POCT service as well as the “clear, personalised explanations” about CVD risk.
Patients also valued the access to testing without having to schedule a GP appointment, with some saying that “they would not otherwise have sought support”.
“Many residents expressed support for making pharmacy-based cholesterol testing routinely available,” CPE added, “and recommended expanding similar services to other conditions, such as diabetes.”
“Significant potential”
CPE concluded that the pilot “demonstrates the significant potential of community pharmacies to strengthen early detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease”.
It added that by providing “high-quality diagnostic services closer to where people live”, community pharmacy is able to:
- Reduce health inequalities
- Increase access to preventive care
- Alleviate pressure on general practice
- Contribute to national efforts to prevent heart attacks, strokes and other serious cardiovascular events
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Community Pharmacy North East London chief officer Shilpa Shah said POCT is “not new to community pharmacy” but “this evaluation clearly shows the benefits” of the service.
She added that community pharmacy “is so accessible and we often reach those that don’t need to see their GP”.
“Services like this absolutely meet the NHS 10-year plan ambition of prevention and we need more of these services in community pharmacy,” she said.
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It comes after Liverpool Council last month announced the launch of a pilot heart health service at one of the city’s community pharmacies.
The service is debuting at Lower House Lane pharmacy and offers point of care blood testing for people experiencing breathlessness, exhaustion or ankle swelling.
