The normal procedure in Paul’s General Practice is for people to have 24 hour BP monitors fitted. However, this would mean Paul would be unable to drive while the monitor is in place, as his arm has to be kept straight when the cuff inflates.
- Paul explains to the Practice Nurse that this will not be possible over the next few weeks because he is required to travel with his job. It is important that all care is person centred and so the practice nurse instead arranges for him to do home blood pressure monitoring.
Basics instructions for people doing home monitoring:
- Two consecutive seated measurements, at least 1 minute apart
- Blood pressure is recorded twice daily (ideally morning and evening)
- Record for at least 4 days and preferably for a week
- Measurements on the first day are discarded and average value of all remaining is used for each blood pressure recording
N.B There is a home blood pressure monitor that NICE recommend for people known to have atrial fibrillation: it is called WatchBP. NICE Guidelines on Atrial Fibrillation
When fitting a home blood pressure monitor, ensure that:
- The pulse is regular
- The cuff is the correct size
- The person is able to operate the machine
Pulse point
People with a car or motorcycle driving licence do not need to notify the DVLA if they have hypertension. However, those with a bus coach or lorry licence are required to notify the DVLA.
Page last reviewed: 17 Sep 2020
