John Reid

Health secretary John Reid has unveiled details of a national consultation on how to improve the nation's health and wellbeing.

Government Response: Department of Health

John Reid, health secretary, said: "With more doctors, more nurses, more beds and more hospitals, our staff have made huge strides in transforming the NHS. This means real improvements in health - like a 10 per cent drop in cancer death rates and a fall of more than 23 per cent in heart-related deaths since 1996.

"But I admit there are still worrying problems in preventable conditions like obesity and sexually transmitted infections. And more can be done on smoking.

"These are issues for all of us, not just for the government. We need a big debate about where government responsibility lies and where individuals must play a part in tackling these vital challenges.

"I want everyone to make their voice heard - because everyone's future is at stake. We are setting up the biggest consultation exercise of its kind to ensure we hear from across the country - from people of all backgrounds, from industry, sport, the media - and of course the NHS.

"Over the next few weeks we will be giving details of hundreds of events designed to give everyone a chance to take part.

"The document I am publishing today sets out a wide range of searching questions about all aspects of our health and wellbeing.

"It's not setting out government policy - it's asking questions in order to stimulate debate."

Forum Response: BUPA

A spokesperson for BUPA told ePolitix.com: "Increasingly, people are being encouraged to take responsibility for their own wellbeing. Last week Derek Wanless, in his second report on the nations health, concluded that individuals are ultimately responsible for their own and their children's health. 

"In addition, health secretary John Reid emphasised the importance of public health to the government by launching the consultation 'Choosing Health?'

"BUPA believes that employers as well as individuals play a significant role in contributing towards a healthier nation. 

"Employers in particular stand to benefit from services such as employee assistance programmes, health screening and occupational health services.

"The CBI estimates sickness absence costs UK business £23 billion a year. Research suggests that companies who provide private medical insurance for their employees gain a day in productivity and reduced sickness absence for every employee covered. This means that in 2002 British business gained 2.5 million days of work.

"One occupational health issue BUPA has tackled in partnership with businesses is back pain.  Back pain is a major burden on business, estimated to result in the loss of at least 10 million working days per year. It is the biggest cause of sickness absence, and a leading cause of long-term disability and early ill-health retirement.

"With over £50 million spent annually on the diagnosis and treatment of back pain, dealing with it in the workforce - by promoting effective clinical management, earlier recovery, and a reduction in long-term disability - has to be a priority for public health. BUPA also identifies areas of back-pain risk within companies and targets prevention programmes."

Forum Response: Nursing and Midwiffery Council

A spokesperson for the Nursing and Midwiffery Council told ePolitix.com: "The NMC strongly supports this new push on public health. We have to find new ways of encouraging people to live healthily without preaching at them.

"All the evidence suggests that public health will be at the cutting edge of health care over the next 20 years. The NMC itself is looking at new standards this week for public health nursing."

Forum Response: Health Development Agency

Dame Yve Buckland, Chair of the Health Development Agency, said: "The health of the nation is the joint responsibility of individuals, the public sector and the government, so it's right that everyone has the chance to give their views on what would help them to live healthier lives.

"Prevention is better than cure, and it's never been more important that we turn the tide of largely preventable conditions, like obesity, that are threatening to swamp the country. But we must all work together in partnership to deliver the improvement in health needed to achieve this.

"The HDA therefore welcomes this major consultation involving everyone with a role to play in helping reduce the burden of ill-health blighting the nation. We need to have an environment that ensures that every person in this country, irrespective of social circumstance, has the opportunity to make healthy lifestyle choices.

"Capturing views on how to tackle issues like smoking and physical activity will help inform the way forward, alongside the HDA's evidence of what works to improve health.

"Our evidence has also shown that you must engage people fully if you want them to take responsibility for their health, and unless the community is enabled to take action, there will be little impact.

"The Healthy Communities Collaborative is an excellent example of how local people have worked together successfully to reduce falls in older people by up to 60 per cent. This consultation will be a crucial element of helping people take ownership of, and participate in, future plans to improve health."