England pharmacies to offer free cholesterol tests this autumn

NHS England has announced a new initiative to offer free seven-minute cholesterol tests at approximately 100 high-street pharmacies across England starting this autumn. The pin-prick test aims to improve the early detection of cardiovascular risks to reduce deaths from heart disease and stroke.

The service is available to eligible patients aged 40 to 84 who are not pregnant and have not undergone a blood test within the past year. In addition to cholesterol profiling, patients will be offered blood pressure checks and will receive their results via email. Pharmacist prescribers will be able to provide lifestyle advice and determine if medical treatment is necessary.

This rollout follows a pilot program in north London conducted by Barts Health NHS Trust, UCLPartners, and HEART UK. During that pilot, which ran between January 2025 and March 2026, 2,493 patients were tested at 61 community pharmacies. Results showed that 19 per cent of those tested required medication, leading 88 individuals to begin statin treatment.