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Health Groups Give Cautious Welcome to PM's Screening Plan
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Jan 9, 2008, 09:20

Health charities today welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement, but warned that any scheme must take into account 3 key challenges if it is to be successful in reducing the number of deaths from cardiovascular disease. 
 
Cardiovascular diseases are the UK’s biggest killer causing 37% of deaths in the UK which amounts to 216,000 people2. Many of these deaths could be easily avoided through a more integrated approach to vascular risk screening like the programme announced by Gordon Brown today.
 
However, experts from H∙E∙A∙R∙T UK, the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society (PCCS) and the National Obesity Forum (NOF) say that for vascular screening to be a success the Government must ensure that:-

  • the programme is based on the best practice guidelines for vascular screening produced by the Joint British Societies and focuses on those groups at the highest risk of developing cardiovascular disease such as the over 40s;
  • GPs are properly supported to ensure that they have the resources to properly implement screening;
  • investment is made to ensure that the full range of interventions – including cholesterol and blood pressure medications and weight management programmes - are available to treat those patients identified by screening as being at high risk.
Dr David Haslam of the National Obesity Forum said, “Vascular screening has the potential to make a huge breakthrough in reducing the number of people dying from the diseases that result from the rise in unhealthy lifestyles and obesity.”
 
“The government must ensure that GPs are properly supported to ensure they have the time and resources to undertake screening and have the full range of interventions available to them once screening identifies patients who are at high risk.”
 
Dr Fran Sivers, Executive Director of PCCS said, “This significant move towards an NHS more focused on effective disease prevention is long overdue. It is important that such screening is focused heavily on those groups that we already know are most at risk – such as the over 40s and certain minority ethnic groups.”
 
Cathy Ratcliffe, from H∙E∙A∙R∙T UK said, “With an ageing population and a rise in unhealthy lifestyles, far more of us are at risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and stroke. There is no single solution but this is a welcome step forward that will allow us to prevent patients at high risk from developing serious conditions.”
 
“Having campaigned on this issue for some time, we feel it is important that the Government moves ahead swiftly with the implementation of this programme and ensures that screening is in-line with the best practice guidelines that have already been set out by clinical experts and patient groups.”

To read the full Prime Minister’s Speech click here.

To read H·E·A·R·T UK’s response to the Prime Minister’s Speech click here.

To read the Health charities response in the letters section of the Guardian website click here.



Notes to editors
1. Joint British Societies (British Cardiac Society, British Hypertension Society, Diabetes UK,  H∙E∙A∙R∙T UK, Primary Care Cardiovascular Society and the Stroke Association) guidance on vascular screening seeks to establish a total risk approach to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment and define lifestyle and risk factor intervention with thresholds and targets which reflect the scientific base for managing high risk patients. The guidelines recommend comprehensive CVD risk assessment for adults from 40 years onwards. Risk assessment should include waist circumference, non-fasting lipids, non-fasting blood glucose, blood pressure
 
References
1. Allender S et al. Coronary heart disease statistics. 2006 British Heart Foundation: London


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