Policy

The Government has made a commitment that the NHS will become more focused on prevention and improving health and wellbeing.

The Department of Health is currently developing a ‘prevention package’ for older people which brings together a number of initiatives to help older people keep well and enable them to live independently for longer. An initial report is expected in October 2008.

Population screening is offered for many diseases and conditions for which early treatment improves the chance of recovery and survival. There are plans to screen for vulnerability to heart and circulatory diseases for people aged 40-74‚ and for abdominal aortic aneurysm for men aged 65. The Department of Health website gives more information on vascular risk assessments. Invitations for breast cancer screening for women are being extended up to age 73 from April 2008.

The NHS Mid-life LifeCheck is for people aged 45-60 and focuses on assessing modifiable lifestyle risk factors such as smoking‚ diet and nutrition‚ alcohol consumption‚ physical activity and emotional well-being. It will be rolled out in early 2009.