High-street pharmacies will begin to offer seven-minute cholesterol checks

Around 100 NHS pharmacies are expected to start offering quick cholesterol checks this autumn

The cholesterol checks will give thousands of people easier access to potentially life-saving cardiovascular health checks

This is part of an NHS drive to reduce deaths from heart disease and stroke by a quarter over the next decade.

The overall goal of bringing cholesterol checks into community pharmacies is to help people take action before serious illness develops.

Who can get a check?

People aged 40 to 84 will be eligible as long as they are not pregnant and have not had a blood test within the previous 12 months.

Cholesterol tests will be available at participating pharmacies without a GP appointment. Patients will have a simple pin-prick test, with results available in around seven minutes.

A pharmacist prescriber will discuss the results with the patient and, if appropriate, will advise on lifestyle changes. They can also assess whether treatment may be needed.

Patients will then receive a copy of their results by email.

Blood pressure checks included

The cholesterol assessment will also include a blood pressure check as part of a wider consultation with a pharmacist prescriber.

Checking cholesterol and blood pressure can help identify people who may have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks and strokes. The NHS cholesterol checks pilot is expected to run until spring 2027.

The national plans for the cholesterol checks after the successful pilot in North London involving Barts Health NHS Trust, UCLPartners and HEART UK.

Between January 2025 and March 2026, the programme tested 2,493 people at 61 community pharmacies. Around 19% of those tested were identified as suitable for pharmacological intervention, while 88 people went on to start statin treatment.

Creating better access to healthcare

The new cholesterol checks are part of the NHS’ plans to expand the roles of pharmacies and make healthcare easier to access outside of a GP setting.

By offering cholesterol and blood pressure checks closer to home, the programme aims to make it easier for people to understand their cardiovascular risk without arranging a separate GP appointment.

The cholesterol checks could also help reduce the pressure GP services face, while supporting higher-risk people earlier.

The NHS hopes that expanding the programme across England will help more people understand their cholesterol and blood pressure levels, make healthier lifestyle choices and receive treatment where necessary.