Key Summary
- Liverpool launches the UK’s first BEAT Pharmacy, offering quick heart checks in the community.
- Pharmacies now provide on-the-spot blood testing to spot heart failure early in people with key symptoms.
- The aim is to detect heart issues sooner and reduce health inequalities by making care more accessible locally.
Liverpool has become the first city in the UK to launch BEAT Pharmacy, a community-based heart health assessment initiative, Liverpool Express reports.
It is a part of the BEAT Heart Failure Programme conducted by the University Hospitals of Liverpool Group and The Pumping Marvellous Foundation, in association with NHS Cheshire & Merseyside, the Liverpool Local Pharmacy Committee, and Liverpool City Council – Public Health.
The term ‘BEAT’ stands for certain the symptoms of heart failure, such as breathlessness, feeling exhausted, swollen ankles, and knowing it’s time to get checked.
The heart assessment pilot started functioning on Thursday (26) offering point of care NTproBNP blood testing for people experiencing BEAT symptoms.
The initiative aims to increase heart failure detection and decrease health inequalities across the city.
Following the State of Health in the City: Liverpool 2040 report, the city has been taking initiatives to fight preventable causes of ill-health.
The city was also a forerunner in providing the first emergency contraception via pharmacies with blood pressure tests, vaccinations and the Pharmacy First service.
“I’m proud to be part of the launch the BEAT Pharmacy initiative, a first for Liverpool and a major step in tackling the health inequalities highlighted in our Liverpool 2040 report,” commented Professor Matt Ashton, director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council.
He added, “By bringing rapid, accessible heart failure testing into the heart of our communities, BEAT Pharmacy will speed up diagnosis and treatment, improve patient experience, and help reduce health inequalities by ensuring that those at greatest risk can access timely, preventative cardiovascular care closer to home.”
“Proactive screening for conditions such as Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation and high blood pressure is one of the ways Pharmacy can integrate and offer greater value to the NHS and better health outcomes for our communities,” said Matthew Burgoyne, IP Pharmacist and Pharmacy Partner.
