Do you need any qualifications to carryout cholesterol/ blood pressure tests?

Question

Like for instance the ones they do at boots.

Thanks

Answer 1

Ultimately anyone can pulled in off the street and be trained to take blood pressure measurements or samples of blood for cholesterol testing without having formal qualifications or medical education. The subtlety of the argument lies in the interpretation of the results. As an example I state the following: Throughout my nursing career I have worked with many dedicated and hard working nursing auxiliaries, however although they can and do take blood pressures and could take bloods too, they are not trained to interpret the results of these measurements and their significance in relation to the patient and their condition. I would personally prefer to have my GP or Practice Nurse check my blood pressure and cholesterol levels and I would not choose to have an assistant in a store perform these tests on me.

Answer 2

No I am sure you don't. Not only that you don't seem to need any qualifications to pretend that you can interpret the results and the meaning of those results!

In my view all that testing done in this way does, and it is increasing all the time, like chlamydia etc. is to take money off the worried well and improve Boots' profits.

If anything, even trivia, is found the patient is sent to his GP. He might as well have gone there in the first place as the testing is free. Also I am quite sure that some patients are falsely reassured when there are other issues to be looked at.

All these schemes are also part of wild and ill conceived government attempts to save the NHS money. They stand no chance of succeeding and are much more likely just to increase queues and expectations at the GP's door!

Answer 3

I suggest you go to Boots and make inquiry.

Answer 4

shouldnt think so just training