Hypertension - ABPM Follow Up

To start the ABPM Follow Up session:

  1. From the Hypertension Case-Finding Service screen, find the required episode with a status of Awaiting ABPM Follow Up and select OPEN :

  2. A summary of the Hypertension Case-Finding Service displays, select START SESSION :

    Training Tip - Select VIEW SESSION to view the details of a previous session.

  3. The ABPM Follow Up screen displays:

Complete as appropriate:

Was the follow-up provided? - Complete as appropriate:

Selecting Yes displays the following sections:

Complete as appropriate:

  • Clinic Blood Pressure Check Before ABPM - The submitted blood pressure reading from the initial consultation displays:

  • ABPM Follow-Up Details - Complete the date and time of this session:

    • Date of Follow-Up - Select Date to open a calendar and select a date, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

    • Time of Follow-Up - Select Time to enter the time of consultation, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

  • ABPM Readings - Enter the blood pressure readings recorded on the Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor (ABPM) device:

    1. Select ADD ABPM READINGS to add blood pressure readings. The Add ABPM Readings screen displays:

      Complete as follows:

      • Average ABPM Reading:

        • Systolic Reading - Enter a systolic value.

        • Diastolic Reading - Enter a diastolic value.

      • Average Pulse Reading - Enter an average pulse reading.

        Important - Advice displays advising you to 'Use the average value of at least 14 measurements taken during the person’s usual waking hours to obtain a reading, over at least 7 hours'.

    2. Once all the readings are added, select SUBMIT READING . The readings are submitted and an ABPM rating is calculated:

      Training Tip - Select EDIT to amend a reading on the Add ABPM Readings screen, or DELETE to delete all readings.

      Select VIEW ABPM RATING CHART to view the rating chart:

    How you complete the ABPM Follow Up session depends on the ABPM rating. Select from the following to view the next steps:

    Complete the following sections as appropriate: 

    Complete the details of any symptoms from the available list:

    Does the patient experience any symptoms? - Select from the following options: 

    Selecting Fainting/falling, or regularly feeling like they will faint displays the following sections to complete:

    • Which symptoms are experienced? - Select from the following options: 

      • Regular fainting

      • Falls

      • Feel like they may faint on a daily/near daily basis

    • Confirm the Referral Destination - Select either:

      • GP - If you were advised to refer the patient to their registered GP or another healthcare provider within 3 weeks, a message displays advising a PDF referral is generated and sent on completion of the episode:

      • Other - If the referral is not to a GP, select from one of the other referral destinations:

        • Out of Hours GP

        • A&E

        • 999

        • Other - You must indicate the destination in Please indicate.

        Important - A PDF referral is not sent automatically if you select anything other than GP.

    • Date & Time of Referral - Complete the date and time of the referral:

      • Date of Follow-Up - Select Date to open a calendar and select a date, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

      • Time of Follow-Up - Select Time to enter the time of consultation, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

    • Patient's Registered GP Details - Check the patient's registered GP details are correct, or select EDIT to change them:

    Selecting Dizziness, nausea or fatigue displays the following sections to complete:

    • Which symptoms are experienced? - Select from the following options: 

      • Dizziness

      • Nausea

      • Fatigue

    • Do you believe the patient is at risk (such as of falling) and requires an urgent referral? - Select either: 

      • Yes - You are advised to refer the patient to their registered GP or another healthcare provider for a same day appointment.

      • No - You are advised to refer the patient to their registered GP or another healthcare provider within 3 weeks.

    • Confirm the Referral Destination - Select either:

      • GP - If you were advised to refer the patient to their registered GP or another healthcare provider within 3 weeks, a message displays advising a PDF referral is generated and sent on completion of the episode:

      • Other - If the referral is not to a GP, select from one of the other referral destinations:

        • Out of Hours GP

        • A&E

        • 999

        • Other - You must indicate the destination in Please indicate.

        Important - A PDF referral is not sent automatically if you select anything other than GP.

    • Date & Time of Referral - Complete the date and time of the referral:

      • Date of Follow-Up - Select Date to open a calendar and select a date, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

      • Time of Follow-Up - Select Time to enter the time of consultation, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

    • Patient's Registered GP Details - Check the patient's registered GP details are correct, or select EDIT to change them:

    If the patient reports suffering from no symptoms, select None of the above and continue to the ABPM Report section.

    Upload an ABPM report:

    To upload an ABPM report downloaded from your ABPM device, either:

    • Drag and drop the PDF file over the upload area, or

    • Click the upload area to open Windows File Explorer, and then locate the PDF file to upload.

    Note - Select Unable to upload file if you are unable to upload a PDF file. A message displays advising 'If no ABPM report is uploaded, the GP will still be notified of the patient's ABPM readings via an electronic message, but will not be sent the full ABPM report. If you are unable to upload a file to Pharmacy Services, please consider sending the ABPM report to the GP via another method (e.g. NHSMail or physical copy)'.

    Complete as appropriate:

    1. Please select at least one piece of advice - Select from:

      • Diet & nutrition

      • Sodium/salt

      • Caffeine

      • Alcohol

      • Smoking

      • Physical activity

      • Referral to a local Healthy Living service - Enter the details in Service Name (Optional):

    2. Enter any additional comments or advice given to the patient in Additional Comments (Optional):

    This section automatically populates with the logged in user's details. Select the clinician's role as either Pharmacist or Pharmacist Technician, and update the details manually if required:

    Upload an ABPM report:

    To upload an ABPM report downloaded from your ABPM device, either:

    • Drag and drop the PDF file over the upload area, or

    • Click the upload area to open Windows File Explorer, and then locate the PDF file to upload.

    Note - Select Unable to upload file if you are unable to upload a PDF file. A message displays advising 'If no ABPM report is uploaded, the GP will still be notified of the patient's ABPM readings via an electronic message, but will not be sent the full ABPM report. If you are unable to upload a file to Pharmacy Services, please consider sending the ABPM report to the GP via another method (e.g. NHSMail or physical copy)'.

    Complete as appropriate:

    1. Please select at least one piece of advice - Select from:

      • Diet & nutrition

      • Sodium/salt

      • Caffeine

      • Alcohol

      • Smoking

      • Physical activity

      • Referral to a local Healthy Living service - Enter the details in Service Name (Optional):

    2. Enter any additional comments or advice given to the patient in Additional Comments (Optional):

    This section automatically populates with the logged in user's details. Select the clinician's role as either Pharmacist or Pharmacist Technician, and update the details manually if required:

    Complete the following sections as appropriate: 

    Upload an ABPM report:

    To upload an ABPM report downloaded from your ABPM device, either:

    • Drag and drop the PDF file over the upload area, or

    • Click the upload area to open Windows File Explorer, and then locate the PDF file to upload.

    Note - Select Unable to upload file if you are unable to upload a PDF file. A message displays advising 'If no ABPM report is uploaded, the GP will still be notified of the patient's ABPM readings via an electronic message, but will not be sent the full ABPM report. If you are unable to upload a file to Pharmacy Services, please consider sending the ABPM report to the GP via another method (e.g. NHSMail or physical copy)'.

    Select either:

    • GP - If you were advised to refer the patient to their registered GP or another healthcare provider within 3 weeks, a message displays advising a PDF referral is generated and sent on completion of the episode:

    • Other - If the referral is not to a GP, select from one of the other referral destinations:

      • Out of Hours GP

      • A&E

      • 999

      • Other - You must indicate the destination in Please indicate.

      Important - A PDF referral is not sent automatically if you select anything other than GP.

    Check the patient's registered GP details are correct, or select EDIT to change them:

    Complete the date and time of the referral:

    • Date of Follow-Up - Select Date to open a calendar and select a date, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

    • Time of Follow-Up - Select Time to enter the time of consultation, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

    Complete as appropriate:

    1. Please select at least one piece of advice - Select from:

      • Diet & nutrition

      • Sodium/salt

      • Caffeine

      • Alcohol

      • Smoking

      • Physical activity

      • Referral to a local Healthy Living service - Enter the details in Service Name (Optional):

    2. Enter any additional comments or advice given to the patient in Additional Comments (Optional):

    This section automatically populates with the logged in user's details. Select the clinician's role as either Pharmacist or Pharmacist Technician, and update the details manually if required:

    Complete the following sections as appropriate: 

    If stage 2 hypertension is identified you are prompted to check for acute symptoms such as labile or postural hypotension, headache, palpitations, pallor, abdominal pain or diaphoresis. Select either:

    • Yes - If the patient reports acute symptoms, they should be advised to see their registered GP practice or another healthcare sooner than 7 days and should call the GP during opening hours and while the patient is still in the pharmacy:

    • No - If the patient does not report acute symptoms, refer patient to their registered GP practice or another healthcare provider within 7 days:

    Upload an ABPM report:

    To upload an ABPM report downloaded from your ABPM device, either:

    • Drag and drop the PDF file over the upload area, or

    • Click the upload area to open Windows File Explorer, and then locate the PDF file to upload.

    Note - Select Unable to upload file if you are unable to upload a PDF file. A message displays advising 'If no ABPM report is uploaded, the GP will still be notified of the patient's ABPM readings via an electronic message, but will not be sent the full ABPM report. If you are unable to upload a file to Pharmacy Services, please consider sending the ABPM report to the GP via another method (e.g. NHSMail or physical copy)'.

    Select either:

    • GP - If you were advised to refer the patient to their registered GP or another healthcare provider within 3 weeks, a message displays advising a PDF referral is generated and sent on completion of the episode:

    • Other - If the referral is not to a GP, select from one of the other referral destinations:

      • Out of Hours GP

      • A&E

      • 999

      • Other - You must indicate the destination in Please indicate.

      Important - A PDF referral is not sent automatically if you select anything other than GP.

    Check the patient's registered GP details are correct, or select EDIT to change them:

    Complete the date and time of the referral:

    • Date of Follow-Up - Select Date to open a calendar and select a date, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

    • Time of Follow-Up - Select Time to enter the time of consultation, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

    Complete as appropriate:

    1. Please select at least one piece of advice - Select from:

      • Diet & nutrition

      • Sodium/salt

      • Caffeine

      • Alcohol

      • Smoking

      • Physical activity

      • Referral to a local Healthy Living service - Enter the details in Service Name (Optional):

    2. Enter any additional comments or advice given to the patient in Additional Comments (Optional):

    This section automatically populates with the logged in user's details. Select the clinician's role as either Pharmacist or Pharmacist Technician, and update the details manually if required:

    Complete the following sections as appropriate: 

    If ABPM readings confirm very high blood pressure, you are prompted to check for acute symptoms such as headache, palpitations, new onset confusion, chest pain, signs of heart failure or acute kidney injury. Select either:

    • Yes - If the patient reports acute symptoms, a message displays advising you to give the patient a record of their results and urgently refer them to their local A&E, via 999, where necessary:

    • No - If the patient does not report acute symptoms a message displays advising you to refer the patient to their registered GP practice and should call the GP during opening hours and while the patient is still in the pharmacy:

    Upload an ABPM report:

    To upload an ABPM report downloaded from your ABPM device, either:

    • Drag and drop the PDF file over the upload area, or

    • Click the upload area to open Windows File Explorer, and then locate the PDF file to upload.

    Note - Select Unable to upload file if you are unable to upload a PDF file. A message displays advising 'If no ABPM report is uploaded, the GP will still be notified of the patient's ABPM readings via an electronic message, but will not be sent the full ABPM report. If you are unable to upload a file to Pharmacy Services, please consider sending the ABPM report to the GP via another method (e.g. NHSMail or physical copy)'.

    Select either:

    • GP - If you were advised to refer the patient to their registered GP or another healthcare provider within 3 weeks, a message displays advising a PDF referral is generated and sent on completion of the episode:

    • Other - If the referral is not to a GP, select from one of the other referral destinations:

      • Out of Hours GP

      • A&E

      • 999

      • Other - You must indicate the destination in Please indicate.

      Important - A PDF referral is not sent automatically if you select anything other than GP.

    Complete the date and time of the referral:

    • Date of Follow-Up - Select Date to open a calendar and select a date, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

    • Time of Follow-Up - Select Time to enter the time of consultation, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

    Complete as appropriate:

    1. Please select at least one piece of advice - Select from:

      • Diet & nutrition

      • Sodium/salt

      • Caffeine

      • Alcohol

      • Smoking

      • Physical activity

      • Referral to a local Healthy Living service - Enter the details in Service Name (Optional):

    2. Enter any additional comments or advice given to the patient in Additional Comments (Optional):

    This section automatically populates with the logged in user's details. Select the clinician's role as either Pharmacist or Pharmacist Technician, and update the details manually if required:

Selecting No displays the following sections:

Complete as appropriate:

  • Reason Follow Up Was Not Performed - Select from either:

    • Patient advised they could not tolerate ABPM, or

    • Failed to return the ABPM device.

  • Confirm the Referral Destination - Select either:

    • GP - A PDF referral is generated and sent on completion of the episode:

    • Other - If the referral is not to a GP, select from one of the other referral destinations:

      • Out of Hours GP

      • A&E

      • 999

      • Other - You must indicate the destination in Please indicate.

      Important - A PDF referral is not sent automatically if you select anything other than GP.

  • Patient's Registered GP Details - Check the patient's registered GP details are correct, or select EDIT to change them:

  • Date & Time of Referral - Complete the date and time of the referral:

    • Date of Follow-Up - Select Date to open a calendar and select a date, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

    • Time of Follow-Up - Select Time to enter the time of consultation, or select NOW to add the current date and time.

  • Clinician Details:

    This section automatically populates with the logged in user's details. Select the clinician's role as either Pharmacist or Pharmacist Technician, and update the details manually if required:

  • Healthy Living Advice:

    Complete as appropriate:

    1. Please select at least one piece of advice - Select from:

      • Diet & nutrition

      • Sodium/salt

      • Caffeine

      • Alcohol

      • Smoking

      • Physical activity

      • Referral to a local Healthy Living service - Enter the details in Service Name (Optional):

    2. Enter any additional comments or advice given to the patient in Additional Comments (Optional):

Once the sections are complete:

  1. Select COMPLETE and the Hypertension Case-Finding Service Complete screen displays:

    Important - When completing a Hypertension Case-Finding Service, if a patient is Patient Demographics Service (PDS) verified , a GP Connect message is sent to the patient's GP practice to update the patient's record once accepted. If the patient's details have not been PDS verified, details of the service are sent to the patient's GP by NHSMail. If the GP Notification fails to send, it must be sent to the patient's GP practice in a secure manner, for example, by NHSMail.

  2. If required, select DOWNLOAD PDF to download a PDF version of the following:

    • GP Notification

    • Referral - Only available when referring a patient.

    • Patient Blood Pressure Readings

      Training Tip - You can print the PDF to provide the patient with a record of their blood pressure reading.
    Training Tip - To view the Downloads folder, open Windows File Explorer, and then locate and open Downloads. A list of your recently downloaded files displays.

  3. Select BACK TO HCF EPISODES .

The episode completes and displays on the Completed Episodes screen.

Note - To print this topic select Print in the top right corner and follow the on-screen prompts.