NHS England is expanding a scheme that offers quick finger-prick blood tests for dangerous cholesterol levels at high street pharmacies. The seven-minute test will be available at some chemists across the country to detect the condition earlier, without the need for a full blood test and laboratory wait.
People aged 40 to 84 will be offered the test, which gives results while they wait. The initiative aims to tackle a situation where almost half of adults have high cholesterol but many are unaware and face a greater risk of stroke and heart attack.
How the test works
Pharmacists will take blood from the fingertip using a lancet and produce a cholesterol profile within minutes, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The chemist will then decide if any treatment is needed, including prescribing statins or sharing results with the patient’s GP if they are not qualified to prescribe themselves.
Dangerous levels of cholesterol can remain symptomless for a long time as waxy plaque in the arteries restricts blood flow. Eventually, warning signs can include chest pain and shortness of breath. The new drive aims to identify people who do not present to their GP with symptoms.
Rollout and impact
After an initial successful trial in London, the next phase of the national rollout will see around 100 pharmacies in more deprived areas of the country start offering the test from this autumn. High cholesterol is considered anything above 5mmol/L. It increases the risk of heart attack and stroke and is linked to one in five heart deaths in the UK.
Health minister Alison McGovern said: "This programme is exactly the type of innovation we want to see across the NHS. By making it possible to get a cholesterol check in just seven minutes at a local pharmacy, we're making it easier for people to spot potential problems earlier and take action to protect their health. Early detection can help prevent serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, helping people stay healthier for longer while reducing pressure on NHS services."
David Webb, chief pharmaceutical officer for England, said: "By making it easier for people to get a quick and convenient cholesterol health check on their local high street, we can spot ticking time bombs earlier, helping people take action, and prevent heart attacks and strokes before they happen."
Pilot results and eligibility
The rollout follows a successful pilot in north London by Barts Health NHS Trust and UCLPartners, in which 2,493 patients had their cholesterol checked and one in five were at a high risk of a heart attack or stroke within the next decade. These people were offered medication, including 88 people who began taking statins.
Dr Rani Khatib, NHS England’s National Specialty Advisor for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, said: "Everyone should strive to be aware of the most common risk factors including high cholesterol and blood pressure and 'know their numbers'. This initiative will help people manage their risk factors earlier and reduce their risk of having heart attacks or strokes."
Dr Sotiris Antoniou, the clinical lead for the initiative from Barts Health, said: "By scaling this approach across England, we can support pharmacists to identify cardiovascular risk earlier and, importantly, act on the results through timely advice and treatment."
Everyone aged 40 to 84 is eligible to be checked except for pregnant women and anyone who has received a blood test in the past year, the NHS said. The announcement comes after studies presented at the European Society of Cardiology congress found many more over-70s could benefit from statins than are currently taking them.
