What will you tell them then Mr Burnham?

Last month, health minister Andy Burnham told us he had no intention of telling people not to smoke. Apparently, he doesn't believe in finger wagging (Daily Post July 2009).

Burnham made his remarks during an interview to discuss 'health inequalities' - a strange term which essentially means your chances of being an unhealthy, chain-smoking, alcoholic are largely dictated by where you live.

For Liverpool, this is bad news. To illustrate the point, 164 under 75s per 100,000 Liverpudlians die from cancer compared to only 79 per 100,000 in Kensington and Chelsea. Deaths caused by smoking in Liverpool account for 329.4 per 100,000, among the highest in England and it's a similar story for alcohol-related harm. The average Liverpool female will die ten years younger than her Kensington and Chelsea counterpart, who'll check out aged 87.

So what? Well, the term inequality implies an 'unfairness' and as such the government wants to do something about it. Besides, if they don't, we'll end up footing a rather large bill. Recent estimates by the National Social Marketing Centre suggest avoidable ill-health is already costing us £200billion!

Some would argue if a person wants to eat, drink and smoke themselves to an early death then that's their problem. After all it's a free country so what's the big deal? Well, at £200billion, that's a very costly big deal.

Failure to address increases in illnesses triggered by bad diet, tobacco smoking and alcohol abuse is putting massive pressure on the NHS and society at large, and the situation will only get worse as the UK's population expands.

So what's the solution? Well, Brunham wants us to take more exercise; swimming's his big thing.

"The figures on free swimming are very impressive. There has been a big increase in physical activity and....once active, people make healthier choices about diet, drinking and smoking."

This principle will be extended to the government's Change4Life health campaigns with sub-promotions for Walk4Life, Cycle4Life and even, don't laugh, Dance4Life!

Will Brunham's softly, softly approach work? Perhaps. A few will take note, while many others will carry on regardless. Personally, I believe you need both carrot and stick. A stern reminder of the horrendous consequences of over-indulgence, combined with a seductive message about the obvious benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

What would you advocate if you were health minister?

Ultimately, the responsibility for change lies with you and me, and a willingness to confront what we already know. See you down the gym then?

COMMENTS

No comments added for this entry.

POST A COMMENT