Press Release 12 May 2008
DAVID HAMILTON MP PLEDGES HIS SUPPORT TO TACKLE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE TO 2020
David Hamilton, Midlothian’s MP pledged his support to combat cardiovascular diseases. 31 health charities have joined forces to create the Cardio & Vascular Coalition (CVC), who presented a report at the House of Commons that outlines challenges over the next ten years to tackle the UK’s biggest killer.
The coalition is urging the Government to keep cardiovascular health high on their agenda. The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease concludes in 2009, yet the Coalition is concerned that future strategy is still unclear, and resource is not ring-fenced.
David Hamilton MP says: “Cardio and vascular health has improved markedly over the last decade, thanks partly to National Service Frameworks and the targets that they’ve met. But Government must not be permitted to sit on their laurels. Heart and circulatory diseases still kill more people in the UK than anything else and we absolutely must have a new strategy to challenge this. There are also an increasing number of people who survive crisis cardiovascular events and live for years with debilitating and frightening conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke and kidney disease.”
He continues, “There is a misconception that cardiovascular disease is a ‘done deal’ because we have some effective medicines and procedures. However our lifestyles, waistlines, and ageing population are leaving more and more people at high risk. We are still seeing inequalities between social groups too, but a new policy plan will help us address tomorrow’s challenges and turn this around.”
Green and White papers will be developed by the CVC that will pave the way for a joined-up strategy incorporating appropriate screening, early diagnosis, prevention, and care of people with cardiovascular conditions. The strategy should be for 2010-2020 and should consider all patients – including diagnosis of congenital disease before birth to care at the end of life, supporting the needs of people in palliative care.
The coalition wants:
patients living with cardiovascular disease to be at the centre of policy and services to improve standards of care.
clinical and policy leadership on best practice.
a model to predict the future burden of cardiovascular disease, both in terms of economic costs and quality of life.
action to combat inequalities in the prevention, diagnosis and care of cardiovascular patients, for example in women or people from different ethnic backgrounds.
renewed commitment to basic bio-medical and applied research that will improve the provision of cardiovascular services.
central government and local commissioners to work with the voluntary sector in planning and developing cardiovascular disease policy and services.
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