Mike said he is “eternally grateful”
Mike Andrews with his wife, Anna and daughters, Violet and Pearl(Image: NHS Cheshire and Merseyside)
A dad’s life changed forever after he read a leaflet during a routine family trip to the optician. Mike Andrews attended his appointment with his wife, Anna and their two daughters Violet, 10, and Pearl, nine.
In the consulting room, Mike read a leaflet about blood pressure which led to the Optometrist advising the dad about an initiative where blood pressure tests were being offered at opticians as an efficient way of screening people in familiar settings.
Mike, 45, from Tuebrook, said: “I’m not one for going to the doctor and have no real history of hospital visits, but in that moment, something made me think: ‘why not?’ I had no idea that decision would start a journey of some quite alarming conversations.”
After the Optometrist saw the results of Mike’s blood pressure reading, he was advised to call NHS 111 immediately. He was then asked to attend his local pharmacy to repeat the test on another machine.
His blood pressure registered as 255/151, well above what is considered the normal blood pressure range of between 90/60 and 120/80.
Mike said: “I was told I needed to go to A&E immediately and that’s when I realised something was seriously wrong.”
Mike was admitted to Aintree Hospital where he was monitored for several days. He said: “Every time the nurses took my blood pressure they told me they couldn’t understand how I was walking around without any symptoms.”
Many people also show no symptoms but untreated high blood pressure can lead to serious conditions like strokes, heart attacks, kidney disease and vision loss.
Over the next 10 weeks, Mike had brain and kidney scans, ultrasounds, and blood and urine tests. He was given three medications he will need to take daily for the rest of his life to control his condition.
Mike said: “Doctors told me that without intervention, a heart attack or stroke was inevitable. My wife would have lost a husband, and my children would have lost their dad. That’s terrifying to think about.
“I would never have normally said yes to the test when it was offered. Whatever it was on that day which made me say yes has most certainly saved my life.
“I will be eternally grateful to the Optometrist and for the option of having my blood pressure tested at that point on our busy family day.”
Mike’s experience is part of a wider initiative aiming to reshape how high blood pressure can be identified in everyday settings.
Following a successful funding bid with NHS England, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside launched a pilot in June 2025, aimed at identifying undiagnosed high blood pressure during routine optometry appointments.
The service is delivered by local optometry practices across Merseyside and Cheshire and supported and managed by Primary Eyecare Services.
It offers opportunistic blood pressure and irregular pulse checks during routine eye appointments for patients aged 40 to 79 who haven’t had a recent blood pressure check and don’t have a current high blood pressure diagnosis.
Over 1000 people have been tested across 61 participating optometry practices, with 300 people referred to their GP for further follow up and eight people referred for urgent care.
Dr Fiona Lemmens, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Executive Clinical Director, said: “By offering blood pressure checks in community settings like optometry practices, we’re reaching people who might not otherwise have their blood pressure monitored.
“Mike’s story is a powerful reminder that these simple checks can save lives. We encourage everyone eligible to take up the opportunity when offered.”
Dharmesh Patel, Chief Executive of Primary Eyecare Services, said: “This pilot reflects the importance of optometry’s role in supporting the NHS’ 10-Year Plan of neighbourhood-led healthcare, offering convenient, accessible and effective care for more patients across England.
“Many patients have been referred on to their GP and local hospital for further investigation with several receiving lifesaving treatment just like Mike.”
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