Long Term Conditions (LTC) are health conditions that can impact on a person’s life, and may require ongoing care and support. We organise appointments and provide support for people who have an LTC by putting in place a way of working called ‘Personalised Care and Support Planning’.  We work with our patients to help them better manage chronic conditions such as asthma, cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD), chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis or stroke, including transient ischaemic attack (TIA).

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, rarely has noticeable symptoms. But if untreated, it increases your risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

Scroll down to find out how you can monitor your blood pressure quickly and easily from home.  

The Barcellos Family Practice offers the opportunity for patients to monitor their blood pressure at home and share their blood pressure readings directly back to their GP from home using the Viso app.    

High blood pressure, or hypertension, rarely has noticeable symptoms. But if untreated, it increases your risk of serious problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

In line with NHS England recommendations, NHS Dorset is working in partnership with Omron Healthcare to implement blood pressure (BP) monitoring at home using the Viso app.

Scroll down to find out more about our BP@Home ser

Monitoring blood pressure remotely through Viso has multiple benefits.  From the patient perspective, it will not be necessary to book an appointment and attend the surgery for a blood pressure check.  

It enables healthcare professionals to keep track of a person’s health, provide them with the information needed to look after their health and help them access the right treatment when required.   

In addition, taking measurements in the comfort of one’s own home can better reflect blood pressure, as being tested in a medical environment can make some people feel anxious, affecting results.

Why do I need to monitor my blood pressure? 

What happens if I don't stay on top of my high blood pressure? 

Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of some serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as:

• heart disease
• heart attacks
• strokes
• heart failure
• peripheral arterial disease
• aortic aneurysms
• kidney disease
• vascular dementia

Prevention is key:  If you have high blood pressure, reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of these health conditions.

How does the service work?

Patients who meet the eligibility criteria will be contacted by us with an invitation to register with the Viso programme. 

Invites will typically be sent via SMS text message, requesting the patient to accept or decline the invitation. 

People who agree to participate will receive details on how to register to use the service.

Or, patients registered with us can submit a request to self register.  

Follow this link to submit your request to self register>>

What if I don't have a Home Monitor?

If you don’t already have a suitable  BP monitor, we can provide you with a discount code to buy a OmronX3 Comfort monitor through Amazon.co.uk.  Email cranevalleypcn@dorsetgp.nhs.uk to request a code. 

Alternatively, we have a limited number of BP monitors available for eligible patients to borrow free of charge.  And should anyone need guidance and support to use the app to provide their BP readings, our Digital Care Coordinator is available to help. 

Once you submit BP readings, our healthcare professionals can view these and advise any changes required to your treatment. 

Advice for taking your own blood pressure

When taking your blood pressure readings, it is important to be relaxed, so avoid taking your blood pressure when stressed, in pain or in a hurry.

For advice about taking your blood pressure readings at home, visit our Advice Page here>>

For more information about Viso, please use the links below to the Omron Healthcare website:

How Viso works>>

How to us the Viso service>>

Managing your condition with Viso>>

Contact the Viso Customer Support team>>

If you have been requested to do so, please follow this link to complete this online review form no later than 48 hours before your appointment. 

Reviews are a way of letting us know how you're managing with your long term condition, your contraception, or your medication.

We offer the ability to request a Review using eConsult for the following:

• Asthma review
• Blood Pressure review
• COPD review
• Contraceptive Pill review
• Depression or anxiety review
• Diabetes review
• HRT review
• Medication review
• Thyroid review

IMPORTANT:  Only complete a review if you've been asked to do so by us.

Further information on Long Term Conditions

The NHS A - Z offers a lot of information about the following health conditions:

Asthma

Cancer

Coronary Heart Disease

COPD

Diabetes

Hypertension

Osteoarthritis

Stroke

Transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

Below we offer links to some other useful third party websites where you can access further information and support for people with Long Term Conditions.

www.asthmaandlung.org.uk – information on lung conditions including asthma and COPD

www.bhf.org.uk – information on heart disease. hypertension and strokes

www.cancerresearchuk.org - information on Cancer types and treatments

www.diabetes.org.uk – advice and support on diabetes and self-management courses

www.macmillan.org.uk – cancer information

www.dorsetmind.uk – mental health support and advice

www.versusarthritis.org – arthritis information