Press Release: September 2007: Public health measures are working but investment is disproportionately small

11 September 2007

The National Heart Forum (NHF) welcomed the report issued today: Our Future Health Secured? [1] which follows up the Wanless Treasury Reviews of 2002 and 2004.

NHF Chief Executive, Paul Lincoln said: "This report is a timely stock-take of the nation's health and health expenditure. It shows tangible public health gains from modest investments since 2002 - in stop smoking services and some diet and physical activity initiatives. But these gains will be quickly cancelled out by the escalating burden of ill-health due to obesity unless government takes public health investment up several gears and redoubles its efforts to tackle the determinants of poor health right across government.

"We need to maintain progress made on policies which support a healthy environment such as restricting food marketing to children and traffic light labelling on food. Without them, current trends show that the NHS will soon be overwhelmed by rising costs from treating largely preventable diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some cancers."

Press Contacts

For comment or to arrange interviews, please call Paul Lincoln, Chief Executive on 0207 383 7638 during office hours or on mobile 07946 433215.

Notes to editors

Our Future Health Secured? A review of NHF funding and performance. D Wanless, J Appleby, A Harrison, D Patel. King's Fund. 2007. Available at: http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/