High blood pressure event draws over 100 residents in Lewisham
Glass Mill Leisure Centre hosted the third Understanding Blood Pressure event in the borough of Lewisham on 11th March 2026, welcoming more than 100 residents from Lewisham and Ladywell (Neighbourhood 2) and the surrounding area. Across the afternoon, people moved between short talks with time for questions and a lively market‑style area – picking up tips, asking questions and getting blood pressure checks done on the spot.
The talks covered the essentials: what high blood pressure is, how to monitor it accurately at home, when medication is needed and how lifestyle changes, particularly physical activity and diet, support better control. The exercise taster and Q&A were especially well received by attendees, with clear, practical advice throughout.
Alongside the talks, a market‑style area at Glass Mill gave people direct access to services. Attendees were able to speak to local pharmacy colleagues about medicines and the Pharmacy First scheme, ask the South East London ICB team about the NHS App as well as seasonal health information, and connect with Alliance and TLCPPCNs about local primary care services. Information was also available from the Abdominal Aortic
Aneurysm (AAA) screening programme, the Africa Advocacy Foundation shared wider community health support and completed on-the-day blood pressure checks, and Red Ribbon provided discreet, community‑based HIV testing and advice.
Feedback was consistently positive. People told us the speakers were clear, approachable and knowledgeable and that the content felt useful – especially around understanding hypertension, options for medication, lifestyle changes and what local pharmacy teams can help with. Many appreciated the mix of speakers and services in one place. As one attendee put it: “The whole day was very informative. Staff who presented were fabulous – thank you.”
“High blood pressure remains one of the most significant risks to long‑term health, so seeing such strong attendance really matters. People were genuinely interested in learning what they can do day‑to‑day to manage it and that’s exactly what these sessions are designed for. The range of partners involved meant residents could get clear, practical advice from the right people all in one afternoon.” – Jonathan McInerny, Head of Long Term Conditions and Cancer, South East London ICB (Lewisham).
Taking simple steps like regular monitoring, staying active and eating a balanced diet can help reduce risks. To find out more about high blood pressure, residents can also speak to their GP or visit the NHS website for further support.