Rapid cholesterol checks to scale to around 100 pharmacies across England

Around 100 NHS pharmacies in England will begin offering life-saving cholesterol check-ups this autumn, following the success of our pioneering cholesterol testing programme with Barts Health NHS Trust.

Rapid finger-prick tests, which give a full cholesterol reading in under seven minutes and calculate a person’s risk of heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years, were introduced across selected pharmacies in north London last year.

High cholesterol is a leading cause of heart attack and stroke, hitting communities in the most deprived areas hardest due to higher risk factors and poorer access to care.

There are often no symptoms, making proactive testing crucial.

When the tests identify someone as high risk, pharmacists can give immediate lifestyle advice and start treatment or refer to a GP for further care. The results are also available on the NHS app.

Barts Health and UCLPartners worked with North East and North Central London ICBs, North East London Local Pharmaceutical Committee, HEART UK and NHS England to roll out the tests in north London.

In total, 2,493 patients were tested at 61 community pharmacies between January 2025 and March 2026, with 19 per cent found to be suitable for pharmacological intervention and 88 people started on statins.

From autumn, the tests will be available in 100 pharmacies across England for people aged 40 to 84 who are not pregnant and have not had a blood test in the past year.

The national pilot will run until spring 2027.

Chris Laing, CEO, UCLPartners, said:

“We’re committed to helping proven innovations reach and benefit more patients so it’s great to see this initiative go from north London to pharmacies across England.

“Our evidence showed that one in five people tested in north London were found to be at high risk of heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years. By detecting risk earlier, pharmacies were able to offer lifestyle advice or refer people to a GP for treatment sooner – benefits that can now be replicated for people across England.”

Dr Sotiris Antoniou, Divisional Director for Clinical Services at Barts Health NHS Trust and clinical lead for the initiative, said:

“This national programme builds on our experience of developing a robust, quality-assured model for point-of-care testing in community pharmacy.

“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.”

David Webb, chief pharmaceutical officer for England, said:

“Your local pharmacy can be a vital first line of defence against serious illness.

“By making it easier for people to get a quick and convenient cholesterol health check on their local high street, we can spot ticking time bombs earlier, helping people take action, and prevent heart attacks and strokes before they happen.

“This is the latest in a series of initiatives involving pharmacies in delivering care previously only offered in GP surgeries as part of the 10-Year Health Plan to bring care closer to where people live.”

Health Minister, Alison McGovern said: “This programme is exactly the type of innovation we want to see across the NHS.

“By making it possible to get a cholesterol check in just seven minutes at a local pharmacy, we’re making it easier for people to spot potential problems earlier and take action to protect their health.

“Early detection can help prevent serious conditions such as heart attacks and strokes, helping people stay healthier for longer while reducing pressure on NHS services.”

Dr Rani Khatib, NHS England’s National Specialty Advisor for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, said:

“Everyone should strive to be aware of the most common risk factors including high cholesterol and blood pressure and ‘know their numbers’. This initiative will help people manage their risk factors earlier and reduce their risk of having heart attacks or strokes.”

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