The government is to launch a major public consultation on the state of Britain's health, John Reid has announced.

Addressing NHS Trust chief executives on Tuesday, the health secretary confirmed that the findings of the exercise would form a white paper aimed at tackling issues including obesity, smoking and sexually transmitted diseases.

Members of the public will be invited to contribute to the debate, alongside members of the media, voluntary sector, industry and health professionals.

Reid said a healthier population could save as much as £30 billion every year in NHS spending.

"We need a big debate about the relative roles of government, individuals and industries in tackling this vital challenge," he said.

"We need to find the right balance, rejecting both the nanny state and the Pontius Pilate state which washes its hands of its citizens' health.

"Overall health is improving in Britain, and our public health programmes are delivering in some areas.

"But there are worrying trends in preventable conditions like obesity and sexually transmitted infections. And still more can be done to prevent cancer and heart disease.

"We need to help everyone tackle these challenges to ensure we all get the long healthy lives we deserve. Successful action now will also ensure the NHS has the capacity to treat the illnesses which cannot be prevented."

Opposition criticism

The Conservatives criticised the government's "damning" record on public health.

“We are very concerned that the government have been in office for over six years but do not have any answers to the country’s public health problems," said shadow health secretary Tim Yeo.

"However, we are not surprised. Their public health record is damning. Their approach has been criticised for being burdensome and lacking in coherence and, by making public health the responsibility of a junior minister, they have not given it the political attention it deserves.

“The Conservative Party is way ahead of the government.  We announced our proposals to address the country’s public health crisis last August, the cornerstone of which will be the appointment a public health commissioner.

“I am pleased to announce that the Conservative Party will be setting up their own expert groups to build on our current proposals.   We will be announcing these groups shortly.”