§ 50. Mr. Hirstasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps his Department is taking to encourage preventive medicine.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe Government recognise the essential role preventive medicine has to play in improving the nation's health. There is a wide range of preventive activity including vaccination and immunisation, health screening, health education, genetic counselling and medical research. All regional health authorities were asked to include policies for prevention in their 10-year strategic plans and all have done so. Implementation of these policies is monitored through the regional review process. We are also expanding our links with the Faculty of Community Medicine and the Royal College of General Practitioners in the field of prevention.
Our particular concern over the high incidence of premature death and disability from coronary heart disease, the major contributor to premature death in Britain, has led us to prepare a major heart disease prevention campaign to be launched next spring. We have been at pains to involve health professionals at an early stage by a series of conferences and seminars.