The 7-minute FREE cholesterol test that could slash risk of heart attack – available at pharmacies

A simple cholesterol test will be offered at high street pharmacies in a bid to slash heart attack and stroke deaths over the next decade.

The finger-prick blood test, which takes just seven minutes to complete, will be rolled out by the NHS at around 100 chemists in England this autumn.

Around six in ten adults in England have high cholesterol – when too much fatty plaques build up in the blood – which can clog the arteries and lead to heart attacks and strokes. 

However, most sufferers are unaware that they have it, leading some to nickname it a ‘silent killer’.

Around 170,000 deaths every year in the UK are thought to be caused by heart attacks and strokes.

Health chiefs hope the rollout of the new test, which will be free for patients to walk into a pharmacy and take, can cut such deaths by a quarter over the next ten years.

Adults aged between 40 and 84 will be eligible if they have not received a blood test from the NHS in the past year.

The results of the tests, which are done by pricking the finger using a lancet – a small, sharp tool that pierces the skin – will be analysed immediately. 

Once complete, prescribing pharmacists can then provide lifestyle advice and say whether treatments such as statins – medicines used to lower cholesterol – are required.

Patients will be emailed their results and also offered a blood pressure check.

Dr Rani Khatib, an NHS adviser on heart disease prevention, said: ‘This will help people manage their risk factors earlier and reduce their risk of having heart attack or strokes.’

David Webb, chief pharmaceutical officer for NHS England, said: ‘We can spot ticking time bombs earlier by making it easier for people to get a quick and convenient health check on their local high street.

‘This is the latest in a series of initiatives involving pharmacies delivering care previously only offered in GP surgeries.’

The scheme is the first of its kind and was unveiled at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress in Munich.

Tests will begin across England from this autumn and be provided at 100 pharmacies in the first six months.

NHS England has not provided a specific rollout date or information on which pharmacies will provide the test.

The national rollout comes after a successful pilot at Barts Health NHS Trust in London.

Around 2,500 patients used the test and one in five were found to be at high risk of heart attack or stroke over the next decade.

Some 88 people began taking statins, while others were referred for other treatments or given lifestyle advice.

Dr Sotiris Antoniou, clinical lead for the scheme at Barts Health NHS Trust, said: ‘By scaling this approach across England, we can support pharmacists to identify cardiovascular risk earlier and, importantly, act on the results through timely advice and treatment. 

‘This has the potential to improve outcomes and reduce health inequalities, particularly in communities where the burden of cardiovascular disease is greatest.’

Health minister Alison McGovern said: ‘This is exactly the type of innovation we want to see across the NHS.

‘Early detection can help prevent serious conditions, helping people stay healthier for longer and reducing pressure on NHS services.’