Workplace blood pressure tests being offered

Managers at Rodda's dairy complex at Scorrier recently organised free blood pressure tests for staff

Free workplace tests are being used to identify people in Cornwall with high blood pressure.

Health leaders say about a third of cases of the potentially life-threatening condition are undiagnosed - that is 4.2 million people in England.

There is a bid to raise awareness and get more people tested by arranging free sessions at places like supermarkets, music events and people's workplaces.

Managers at the Rodda's dairy complex at Scorrier recently organised the free blood pressure tests for staff.

'Handy to know'

Production area leader Sean Taylor was happy to give up a few minutes of his day, saying: "I wouldn't go to the doctors off my own back due to the time... it's hard to get an appointment.

"It's handy to know pre-emptively if there are any underlying issues."

Alex Rodda also had his blood pressure checked

Retail account manager Alex Rodda was happy to free up staff for the sessions.

"I'd very much like it to be a regular thing," he said.

"As we know all too well, you only really see the consequences when something bad happens, so I think getting those checks done and having that prevention in place, knowing what's going on, is definitely a benefit."

Carrying out the tests at Rodda's was Graham Hicks, an outreach health check practitioner with Healthy Cornwall.

He said: "You can never tell by looking at someone what their blood pressure is going to be, that's why we do what we do."

As well as the workplace tests, people can borrow blood pressure monitors for free from libraries across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.