Category: 3.4. Waiting room health monitors and surgery pods
The patient group at Parkfield Medical Centre in Potters Bar bought a stand-alone automatic blood pressure monitor with a tunnel cuff, made by PMS (Instruments) Ltd.
Installed in the waiting room behind a screen, its simple design makes it very easy for patients to use without supervision. Patients sit in a chair, put their arm into a hole in the machine and press a button. There’s no need to put a cuff on, as the cuff is incorporated. The machine produces a printed reading, which can be added to the patient’s records.
The practice has a higher-than-average elderly population and many patients have chronic health concerns. The blood pressure monitor is used regularly by patients seeking reassurance while they’re making an appointment, collecting prescriptions or passing by. It’s also used by those whose blood pressure is being monitored by doctors or nurses.
After patients have been shown how to use the machine once, they are able to do it again without help. The margin for error in the readings is minimal because if a patient uses the machine incorrectly, the blood pressure reading is noticeably inaccurate, and apparent to the medical professional adding it to the file.
The popularity of the monitor surprised practice staff. ‘I thought it would sit in the corner unused, but people love it and it’s used all the time,’ says Practice Manager Brian Eastwood.
‘I think people like the idea of doing something for themselves and no one has any problems using it, not even elderly people. It saves nursing time too, as we no longer have to dedicate resources to taking blood pressure. We are saving over four hours a week of healthcare assistant time, which can be used for other health promotion work.’
Brian Eastwood, 0844 477 8640
brian.eastwood@gp-E82027.nhs.uk
