§ 27. Mrs. Anne CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to reduce the incidence of heart disease. [42204]
§ Ms JowellCoronary heart disease is one of the biggest killers in this country. It accounts for some 120,000 deaths a year including premature deaths. Its incidence shows marked social class inequality. For example, men of172W working age in the bottom social classes are more than 50 per cent. more likely to die of coronary heart disease than men in the overall population.
The Government are undertaking a variety of initiatives to tackle the risk factors for coronary heart disease. These include the forthcoming White Paper on tobacco control, a major campaign, called "Active for Life" to publicise the significant health benefits of moderately intense physical activity, a review, last year, of effective interventions in the prevention and treatment of obesity, and a directory of weight management services available across the National Health Service in England. We also launched a rolling programme of National Service Frameworks including the development of a framework for the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, which will set national standards; put in place strategies to support implementation; and establish performance measures against which progress in reducing preventable death, tackling inequalities, and ensuring consistency of treatment, will be measured. The emerging findings from this work are expected in the autumn, and will be published and disseminated.