Why take part in Know Your Numbers! Week?
By running a Pressure Station, you will help us to reach thousands of people with a free blood pressure check.
Know Your Numbers! Week gives people the chance to get the help and support they need to look after their health.
Hosting a Pressure Station can bring many benefits to you and your organisation, and to those who get a blood pressure check:
- reach people who wouldn't usually get a blood pressure check
- educate more patients, customers or staff about their health
- bring attention to your organisation's services
- attract publicity and raise your organisation's profile
- help you to meet your professional goals, such as corporate social responsibility (CSR).
See the other ways you or your organisation can benefit according to your field of expertise:
Health professionals
Taking part in Know Your Numbers! can bring various benefits to primary care, it can:
- find people with undiagnosed high blood pressure, providing an opportunity for early intervention which can prevent illness and save lives. Our research has found that 39% of those who find out they have high blood pressure during Know Your Numbers! Week had not been told they have high blood pressure by their GP or had a check in the last year
- help you to reach your professional goals, including corporate social responsibility (CSR)
- tackle health inequalities by reaching those who don't normally visit GPs
- drive people to existing services, such as weight management and smoking cessation
- showcase the work of your local CCG (Clinical commissioning group) through the publicity surrounding the event, and involvement in a respected national health campaign.
The Lifestyles team at Bromley Healthcare are a shining example of how Know Your Numbers! can make a real difference to the health of the people in your area. Over three years, from 2014-2016, they’ve taken a staggering 2,500 people’s blood pressures, more than any other London Borough.
They’ve had Pressure Stations in fixed locations such as Intu Bromley shopping centre while the Smokefree Bromley van roams around the Borough reaching out to passers-by who otherwise may never get a check. In 2014, 69% of those who had a check didn’t know their numbers beforehand, 20% had high blood pressure and didn’t know it, and 39% were advised to visit their GP based on their readings. For the team in Bromley, Know Your Numbers! Week has been a chance to get treatment and healthy lifestyle information to those who need it most.
Pharmacies
Being part of a long-running campaign that reaches thousands every year can benefit for your pharmacy. It can:
- find people with undiagnosed high blood pressure, giving an opportunity for early intervention which can prevent illness and save lives
- attract customers and publicity, and guide customers to existing services
- customers with high readings could return for prescriptions and help with blood pressure management
- bring opportunities to conduct Medicine Use Reviews
- direct new customers to your pharmacy through our 'find your nearest' Pressure Station website search
- create opportunities to refer customers to local health services, such as weight management and stop smoking
- help promote the sale of blood pressure monitors
- provide an opportunity and motivation to improve staff knowledge of blood pressure
- put your pharmacy at the heart of the community.
One year, Day Lewis pharmacy took 1,300 more blood pressure checks across their branches than usual, creating valuable opportunities to promote their services as well as finding people with undiagnosed high blood pressure.
They displayed 6ft posters in their windows, gave extra training to staff, kept them informed with regular updates and offered prizes to the branches who took the most blood pressure checks. All of which added up to a highly successful campaign.
Occupational health
Hundreds of Occupational Health advisors run Pressure Stations during Know Your Numbers! Week because of the range of great benefits it provides. It can:
- find people with undiagnosed high blood pressure, giving an opportunity for early intervention which can prevent illness and save lives
- attract staff who are less likely go to their GP for a blood pressure check
- demonstrate to staff the services you provide and how you can benefit them
- get staff interested in their health and guide people to your services
- get men interested in their health – our previous research shows that on average 55% of those who attend a Pressure Station at work are men
- raise the profile of your work and your organisation through internal and external publicity
- help demonstrate your organisation's Corporate Social Responsibility.
Fitness professionals
Thousands of people get a blood pressure check during Know Your Numbers! Week, and taking part can bring benefits for the fitness industry too. It can:
- find people with undiagnosed high blood pressure, giving an opportunity for early intervention which can prevent illness and save lives
- attract potential customers to your gym, health club or leisure centre, and your organisation will feature on our Find your nearest check online search tool
- raise the profile of your health club, leisure centre or gym
- help make your organisation a focal point of the community
- improve staff knowledge and awareness of high blood pressure
- re-enforce your health messages about being fit and active.
Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ
