What to know

• The NHS is launching free finger-prick cholesterol tests at pharmacies nationwide, targeting people aged 40–84, as part of a plan to reduce heart disease and stroke deaths by 25% within a decade.
• A successful pilot in north London found 19% of tested patients at high cardiovascular risk, with at least 88 starting statin treatment as a result.
• About 100 NHS pharmacies will begin offering the tests from autumn 2026, part of a broader shift to move care delivery away from GP surgeries toward community pharmacies.

“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.”

Dr Sotiris Antoniou, Clinical lead for the scheme at Barts Health · The Guardian

David Webb Chief pharmaceutical officer for EnglandDr Sotiris Antoniou Clinical lead for the scheme at Barts HealthAlison McGovern Health ministerDr Rani Khatib NHS England national specialty adviser for cardiovascular disease prevention