NHS Scotland’s high blood pressure success from digital | National Health Executive

Technology that helps patients monitor their blood pressure remotely has reached a major milestone for people in Scotland and saved the NHS hundreds of thousands of appointments in the last five years.

The hypertension platform — known as Connect Me — enables patients to send their blood pressure readings to their GP digitally, ultimately allowing room for patient trend observation and medication changes.

Evidence base

It is thought that approximately 1.3 million people in Scotland are affected by high blood pressure, with it considered the leading preventable risk factor for heart and circulatory disease — which is linked to half of all strokes and heart attacks.

Remote monitoring has been shown to help people maintain an optimal level of blood pressure much faster than those who see their GPs a few times a year.

As high as 99% of all users have found the platform easy to use, with 94% also reporting that they would do so again.

Scotland’s health secretary, Neil Gray, said: “Connect Me is another example of how we’re embracing technology to help tackle the challenges facing health and social care.”

Reaching further

Gray is now encouraging the health service to expand the platform’s provision.

“By empowering patients to take control of their wellbeing we are not only improving health outcomes but also significantly reducing pressure on primary care services.”

Over 100,000 people have benefited from the platform in Scotland now, in turn saving the health service around 400,000 face-to-face appointments since 2019.

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