Anyone over 18 can borrow a monitor and no GP referral is needed.
Residents can now borrow blood pressure monitors for free from Essex’s 74 libraries. They will also be available from two mobile libraries in Essex too.
The scheme launched on 9 September, to coincide with national ‘Know Your Numbers’ Week, the UK’s biggest blood pressure testing and awareness event.
The scheme is available to anyone aged 18 and over in Essex. No GP referral is needed.
Each loan pack includes a monitor, cuff, diary, and guidance leaflet. Monitors can be borrowed for up to two weeks. No booking is required, monitors are available on a first come first served basis.
As well as take home monitors, 15 libraries are hosting freestanding monitors for walk-in use. This means residents can pop in and check and print their blood pressure readings instantly.
The 15 libraries are:
- Braintree
- Colchester (from November when the library reopens)
- Chelmsford
- Harlow
- Rayleigh
- Loughton
- Saffron Walden
- Brentwood
- Billericay
- Maldon
- Clacton
- Basildon
- Witham
- Canvey
- South Woodham Ferrers.
Launching the scheme yesterday at Chelmsford Library, Councillor John Spence, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Adult Social Care, Public Health and Integration said: “We are committed to helping people in Essex easily and quickly access resources to help improve their health.
“This scheme makes it easy and convenient for people who may be worried about their blood pressure to check their numbers, without having to book a GP appointment. “All 74 libraries will have kits available, so wherever you are in the county you will be able to get one if you need one.”
Councillor Mark Durham, Cabinet Member for The Arts, Heritage and Culture was also at the launch and said: “It’s great to see our library spaces being utilised to help improve health in Essex.
“Our libraries are in the heart of our communities and are often safe spaces for many, which makes them the perfect place for this scheme.”
The decision to make blood pressure monitors available to borrow from Essex Libraries was prompted by a successful loan scheme in Suffolk libraries led by NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Both the Suffolk and North East Essex ICB and Mid and South Essex ICB were also at the launch.
Dr Anita Pereira, GP at Laindon Medical Group and System Clinical Lead for Prevention, Personalisation, and Population Health Management at NHS Mid and South Essex, said: “We’re proud to be working with Essex County Council and our colleagues across other Integrated Care Boards in the East of England to support and promote this innovative scheme. By sharing clinical expertise and working in partnership, we can take a unified approach to finding and managing high blood pressure.
“This initiative is an excellent example of local partnership working to tackle health inequalities across mid and south Essex, utilising existing familiar, local resources to support residents’ health and wellbeing.”
Dr Allan Smith, GP at Abbeyfield Practice in Colchester, said: “I strongly welcome these additional monitors and their availability at libraries in Essex. These facilities are typically based in the heart of the communities they serve. It will mean more people will have easy, free access to a simple test that can help prevent heart attacks, strokes or other serious complications. Early detection of high blood pressure really can save lives and I would strongly urge everyone to make good use of this resource as well as to follow the instructions that come with the monitor and any advice from clinicians.”
Dr Jane Halpin, Chief Executive of Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB said: “You may look and feel healthy, but high blood pressure rarely has symptoms and if left untreated, can cause serious illness. We know that there are thousands of people in our area who have high blood pressure but don’t know it so I’m delighted that accessing a blood pressure check is now being made even easier through libraries across Essex.”
Published: 14 September 2025
