§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action(a) has been taken and (b) is planned to address NHS provision for the management of overweight and obese patients that were identified as patchy in the National Audit Office report on Tackling Obesity in England. [127688]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe NHS Plan and the national service framework for coronary heart disease (CHD) (launched after the National Audit Office survey), sets standards for health authorities in partnership with local authorities, primary care trusts (PCTs) and NHS trusts, for the development and delivery of effective policies for reducing overweight and obesity, promoting healthy eating and increase physical activity.
The NHS Priorities and Planning Framework for 2003–06 includes targets on reducing CHD. One of these targets requires practice-based registers and systematic treatment regimes, including appropriate advice on diet, physical activity and smoking, to cover the majority of patients at high risk of coronary heart disease, particularly those with hypertension, diabetes and a body mass index greater than 30 (that is, people who are obese).
248WPCTs, as local providers and commissioners of services, determine the most appropriate methods to deliver health care to their populations, based on clinical need and effectiveness, as well as local circumstances, drawing on the available evidence. The Health Development Agency will publish their review of effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity later this year. Work on how to put the evidence into practice is also being taken forward.
In line with recommendations of the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee reports, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and the Health Development Agency have been tasked by the Department of Health to work collaboratively to develop guidance on the identification, prevention and management of obesity and maintenance of weight reduction.
§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to produce national guidelines for the management of obesity in addition to those which are part of the National Framework for Coronary Heart Disease and Diabetes; and if he will make a statement. [127689]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonFollowing publication of the Government's strategy for sustainable farming and food, the Department of Health is leading on developing a cross-Government food and health action plan. The plan will pull together all of the issues that influence what we eat and will address food production, manufacture and preparation, access to healthier food and providing information for consumers about healthy eating and nutrition, which is of direct relevance to the prevention and management of obesity.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has already issued national guidance on the anti-obesity drugs orlistat and subutramine, treatment with which should be accompanied by appropriate advice on diet, activity and behavioural strategies. NICE has also issued guidance on surgery to aid weight reduction for people with morbid obesity and have been tasked, in collaboration with the Health Development Agency, to develop guidance on the identification, prevention and management of obesity and maintenance of weight reduction.
To ensure there is a co-ordinated and strategic approach to the planning and delivery of sport and physical activity, an activity co-ordination team (ACT) has been established. The team, jointly led by the Department of Health and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, will set out a cross-government strategy to work towards the challenging target for 70 per cent. of the population to be active by 2020. The Department of Health has published a national quality assurance framework for exercise referral systems, offering guidance to primary care and fitness professionals, who work together to offer tailored exercise and physical activity programmes to patients.
The Department has also supported the development guidance for professionals in primary care on weight management in children and adolescents, produced by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and 249W National Obesity Forum. We are also funding research on family-based treatment for obese children that will include resources for health professionals.
The Health Development Agency will publish their review of effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity later this year. Work on how to put the evidence into practice is also being taken forward.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government are taking to tackle obesity in children. [127314]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonThe Government are committed to tackling the rising trend in childhood obesity and we have put in place cross-Government programmes of work to improve diet and nutrition and increase physical activity levels. Commitments for action on obesity, diet and physical activity are outlined in the NHS plan and the national service frameworks, particularly those outlining action on coronary heart disease and diabetes.
The Department of Health is leading on developing a cross-Government food and health action plan. The plan will pull together all of the issues that influence what we eat and will address food production, manufacture and preparation, access to healthier food and providing information for consumers about healthy eating and nutrition. Action on physical activity will be guided across Government by an activity co-ordination team, jointly led by the Department of Health and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. These initiatives will be of direct relevance to the prevention and management of obesity in children and adults.
Current action on diet includes initiatives to increase breastfeeding (breastfed babies may be less likely to become obese later in life than formula fed babies); reform of the welfare foods programme to use the resources more effectively to ensure children in poverty have access to a healthy diet; a five-a-day programme which includes the National School Fruit Scheme; the Healthy School Programme; the Food in School programme and nutritional standards for school lunches. Work is also under way with the food industry to improve the overall balance of diet including salt, fat and sugar in food, working with the Food Standards Agency.
Current action on physical activity includes the transformation over the next three years of physical education, school sport and club links and the building and refurbishment of physical education and sports facilities in schools. In addition, the Department of Health, together with Sport England and the Countryside Agency is leading on a local exercise action pilots (LEAP) programme, which includes children and young people as one of its target groups.