Pharmacists have identified pub-goers with high blood pressure in a unique campaign across south-east Wales.  

Twenty nine per cent of the 378 men and 15 per cent of the 426 women, who underwent the free health checks in their local pub, displayed signs of high blood pressure, Mayberry Pharmacy revealed last week (February 12).

The pharmacy's seven branches, which teamed up with pub chain Wetherspoon to offer the checks over a month, also found that 12 per cent of the men that were identified as having high blood pressure were in the ‘severely high' category and referred to a GP.

Pharmacist Alice Christopher with a Wetherspoon customer at one of the health check events run by Mayberry Pharmacy	More public health initiatives Public Health England urges smokers to seek help to quit from pharmacists Pharmacist promotes obesity role at Downing Street reception Pharmacists trial breathalyser to test for lung cancer
	Pharmacists held 10 health check events between October and November last year and also offered advice on weight loss and healthy living.

They found that 25 per cent of male and 23 per cent of female pub-goers smoked and the same number were obese. They gave out cards with individual blood pressure readings and recommended check-ups with pharmacists.

This was the first time a pharmacy had offered health checks in UK pubs and the initiative made it easier for people to identify health issues and learn more about them, Mayberry Pharmacy said.

"We know conditions such as high blood pressure affect thousands of people in Wales, yet very few are aware of the problem or will visit their local pharmacy or GP," said the company's managing director, Paul Mayberry.

"By offering these health services in places where people do find it comfortable to be, we are helping save more lives," he said.

Mayberry Pharmacy said it was working with Wetherspoon to develop another campaign for later this year.