The Welsh Assembly Government will today [Monday, 23 August] publish a report from a group of experts outlining measures to help prevent cardiovascular disease in Wales.
Vascular disease is one of the major public health challenges facing Wales and can lead to stroke, heart attack and heart failure. Much can be prevented as it is linked to a number of well known risk factors that can be modified or managed - such as smoking, poor diet, limited exercise, raised blood pressure and diabetes.
The report recommends:
· Reviewing existing systems for the prevention of cardiovascular disease;
· Developing a national plan to identify and manage those most at risk of vascular disease and to ensure that services and activities are coordinated within and between community, primary and secondary care;
· Targeting those who are at the greatest risk from the disease to reduce health inequalities.
Implementing these recommendations will allow those who have the disease or those who are at high risk of developing the condition to be targeted specifically – providing a cost-effective service and clinically benefitting those who need help the most.
It will bring together the many existing systems in primary and secondary care for preventing cardiovascular disease with public health initiatives to improve people's lifestyle and diet, and minimise duplication of resources and effort.
The Health Minister, Edwina Hart, has decided that Public Health Wales NHS Trust should be tasked to undertake the review of current services and develop a national plan to take the recommendations forward.
Mrs Hart said: "Vascular disease is one of the biggest killers in Wales. I am pleased to accept the comprehensive report that will inform the development of services and initiatives to reduce the incidence, and number of deaths, associated with vascular disease.
"Public Health Wales will now use the report to review current service provision and advise me on prioritising the actions we need to take so that we can maximise the benefits for people as quickly as possible. This complements work already underway to improve stroke and cardiac services and to raise awareness of the dangers of an unhealthy lifestyle and high blood pressure."
The Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Jane Wilkinson, said: "Smoking and lack of exercise and poor diet are major causes of vascular disease. We are investing in initiatives to improve people's lifestyle and diet as well as discouraging people from smoking or helping people to quit.
"The implementation of the report's recommendation to improve the prevention and treatment of vascular disease supports our wider efforts to invest in education and health improvement."
Professor Sir Mansel Aylward CB, chair of Public Health Wales, added:
"Vascular disease is a scourge and far too prevalent in Wales. We need to get to grips with this.
"Many of the factors associated with the high frequency of this disease in Wales can be tackled successfully. We now need to review current services and develop a national plan to address the recommendations in this report."
The report is available on the Welsh Assembly Government website at: http://wales.gov.uk/topics/health/publications/health/reports/?lang=en