Health secretary asks for public’s help
John Reid has called upon the public, media, industry, voluntary groups and health professionals to pool their resources and save the NHS billions.
The Health secretary told NHS trust executives in London that a public debate should be started to garner ideas on how best to increase the health of the nation.
Each year, 120,000 deaths, which could be prevented, are caused by a number of factors including obesity, smoking and STIs.
A huge 30,000 of these deaths are related to obesity.
‘We need a big debate about the relative roles of government, individuals and industries in tackling this vital challenge,” Mr Reid said.
“We need to find the right balance, rejecting both the nanny state and the Pontius Pilate state which washes its hands of its citizens’ health.”
Chairman of the BMA’s Public Health Committee, Dr Peter Tiplady, said Britain was facing a crisis “on several fronts”.
Commenting on the obesity problem he claimed “giving children more access to exercise and healthy food would make them less susceptible to obesity”.
Mr Reid hopes a healthier nation could save the NHS £30 billion a year in 20 years time.
