Graeme Souness backs Tesco campaign to get 200k footie fans tested for high blood pressure

Football fans are being urged to take care of their hearts this summer - thanks to a huge expansion of Tesco’s free blood pressure checks.

In a campaign backed by ex-Liverpool and Scotland star Graeme Souness, more than 200,000 free checks are available in store between 14th June and 14th July – more than double this time last year.

And with England and Scotland poised to set the nation’s pulses racing with a summer of spot-kick heartbreak and VAR drama in Germany, the TV pundit urged fans to take up the scheme, offering potentially life-saving tests in just minutes.

With no need to pre-book, customers can nip to their local Tesco pharmacy while they do their weekly shop, or even when they’re popping in for some half-time snacks.

British Heart Foundation ambassador, Graeme Souness, said: “I know from personal experience just how important it is to keep an eye on your blood pressure.

“High blood pressure can affect anyone at any time in their life, so taking a few moments to have it checked while doing the weekly shop in Tesco could be potentially life-saving.”

Tesco’s Category Director for Health and Wellness, Tom Lye, said: “With all the drama of penalties and VAR, this summer’s football will inevitably set pulses racing right across the UK – so there’s no better time to check on your heart health.

“While the football is on, we’ve got tens of thousands of free blood pressure checks available every week, making it easy for fans to keep one eye on their health and another on the football.”

Ruth Goss, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to support Tesco’s drive to get more people taking active steps to keep their heart healthy this summer.

“With loads more free appointments available, we’re urging Brits to get down and have their blood pressure checked this month.”

The campaign, backed by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), aims to remind fans of the easy fixes they can put in place to improve and maintain heart health.

In collaboration with the BHF, Tesco has introduced a dedicated meal recipe website with heart healthy meal ideas. Delicious meals to enjoy alongside the football including Tricolour scrambled eggs, Aloo gobi traybakes and Smoky chipotle adzuki bean chilli. Customers can visit the Tesco Real Food Hub for inspiration.

The BHF estimates that up to five million could be living with undiagnosed high blood pressure in the UK and the NHS estimated in 2022 that over the next five years, blood pressure checks at local pharmacies could prevent over 5,000 heart attacks, over 8,000 strokes and save over 4,000 lives in England alone (1).

The campaign is part of Tesco’s wider ‘Helping you to live healthier’ partnership with Cancer Research UK, Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation, which brings together the expertise of the UK’s leading health charities and the UK’s largest food retailer to help tackle the biggest health challenges facing the UK.

Together, the partnership will support, empower and inspire Tesco customers and colleagues to reduce their risk of cancer, heart and circulatory diseases and type 2 diabetes. It will do this through Tesco’s expert Let’s Talk Pharmacy services in 365 stores, making it easier for everyone to access healthier, affordable food options.

The Let’s Talk team of Pharmacists have been trained by our health charity partners to help identify the risks of the three prevalent health conditions affecting a large proportion of the UK population.