CEO update - January 2025
As I sit here writing this piece for our New Year 2025 E-Positive Pressure, it's an opportunity to look back at 2024 but also forward to 2025 and the year ahead.
Lifestyle is so important to reducing blood pressure both diet and exercise, and whilst in 2024 I improved my diet, my exercise left a lot to be desired. Aside from running after the kids and digging out our garden (for reference, new house, sloping rock garden - not ideal for two children under 5), those visions of running/using the rowing machine just did not materialise. So, as I look to my new year’s resolutions for 2025, exercise is my number one.
What will yours be?
At the end of February, I will have been CEO of Blood pressure for three and a half years, it really has flown by, and it certainly has not been all plan sailing. As we navigate difficult financial times, finances have been a constant struggle and I want to thank all of our members, fundraisers, trusts and foundations, and our loyal corporates who without your support we wouldn't be able to reach the huge amount of people with important information about Knowing your Numbers, and vital advice and guidance into how to reduce your blood pressure.
A big thank you also to our Patient Panel that is continuing to grow and has been so supportive in offering their support to shape external research with some of our partners on hypertension. We hope to have some exciting developments in the near future to announce.
In 2024, the new government launched its 10-year health plan to build a health service fit for the future. Regarding blood pressure, it is important that we reach more people with key messages in communities where accessing health service is more difficult, so that more people are identified with high blood pressure and given the advice and medication if needed to reduce it and save lives. Another interesting development will be where technology will take us over the next few years as more products like watches can now take your blood pressure. However, it is imperative that those without access to this technology are not overlooked.
So, it leaves me to say once again a big thank you to you all. Here's to 2025 and living better, and reaching more people.
Kindest regards
Phil Pyatt
CEO
Blood Pressure UK