Local action to manage high blood pressure prevents up to 90 heart attacks and strokes in a single year

Pharmacist Bhavesh Patel at Audley Mills Pharmacy 2

Positive strides in cardiovascular care have helped prevent up to 90 heart attacks and strokes in just one year, according to the latest data.

Thanks to efforts from local clinicians and managers, seven in 10 people diagnosed with hypertension now have their blood pressure effectively managed by local GP practices.

Latest figures shared by NHS England show NHS Mid and South Essex now ranks 13th out of 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) for hypertension performance in March 2025 – a dramatic improvement from 41st place in March 2024 and positioning the system above the England average*.

This is really encouraging progress and represents life-changing work for our residents. It means that more people are getting the care they need closer to home, such as by taking home blood pressure readings and sharing these with their GP practice who can provide further support, or by going to their pharmacy for a blood pressure check.

This work is so important and is helping to prevent disability and save lives – effective blood pressure management is key to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is also helping to reduce pressure on our hospitals. This collaborative approach to CVD prevention has no doubt played a major role in these improvements.

Thank you to all GP practices, Primary Care Networks, the Community Collaborative, and ICB teams for your hard work in driving these results. This collaborative working is greatly appreciated.

Neil Magee, System Clinical Lead for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in NHS Mid and South Essex

Key Achievements:

  • Dramatic ranking improvement: From 41st to 13th place nationally for hypertension management
  • Above national average: The NHS in mid and south Essex now outperforms the England average for hypertension treatment
  • Life-saving impact: Up to 90 fewer heart attacks and strokes expected annually

You can contact the communications team at [email protected]

  • Dual success: Second place nationally for atrial fibrillation anticoagulation treatment
  • Collaboration: Success attributed to partnership between GP practices, Primary Care Networks, the Community Collaborative, and NHS Mid and South Essex ICB teams