§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the North Merseyside Health Action Zone. [155969]
§ Mr. DenhamMerseyside Health Action Zone (MHAZ) is one of the leading health action zones in the country—both in tackling inequalities and in relation to the modernisation agenda.
During 2000–01 it invested over £7 million to support the implementation of coronary heart disease, cancer, and mental health national service frameworks. In Sefton it supports 66 schemes including four healthy living initiatives. The Netherton feelgood factory, a collaboration between MHAZ, pathways, single regeneration budget six and Bootle and Litherland primary care group partners, recently secured £900,000 from the new opportunities fund to develop a new building, housing a range of health related services.