To ask the Minister of Health, in addition to the current proposals for reshaping stroke services, what extra actions will be put in place for prevention and community monitoring for hypertension.

Risk factors for stroke such as hypertension are managed in primary care through the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) in general practice. The indicators within the Framework focus on promoting prevention of cardiovascular problems such as stroke through satisfactory blood pressure control of hypertension patients which can be achieved through lifestyle advice or the use of antihypertensive drug treatment.

In addition, the Public Health agency invests in a wide range of health improvement programmes aligned to stroke prevention. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, a pilot for community pharmacies to test for hypertension was undertaken. Evaluation of the pilot service will inform the future development of this service.