PRESS RELEASE
30 March 2009

Malcolm Moss backs call to deliver ‘first class’ cardiac and vascular health

Malcolm Moss MP for North East Cambridgeshire gave his backing to a new plan to deliver first class cardiac and vascular health across England.

Malcolm Moss was supporting the launch of ‘Destination 2020’ a report by the Cardio & Vascular Coalition (CVC) outlining how the Government should approach the fight against cardiac and vascular disease over the next decade.

In the East of England an estimated 255,000 people have coronary heart disease and an estimated 113,000 of people suffer a stroke. There is also are an estimated 239,000 people living with diabetes. In the East of England Strategic Health Authority there are an estimated 405,000 people with chronic kidney disease.

Malcolm Moss said: “Cardiac and vascular diseases are the leading cause of death in this country. With an ageing and increasingly overweight and obese society there will be new pressures on the health service. It is crucial that we have a renewed plan so that we can deliver first class response to the health challenges in the years ahead.”

The National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) in England was a 10-year plan of action launched in 2000. The Framework has overseen achievements including reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease for people under 75 by 40%.

Betty McBride, Chair of the CVC and Director of Policy and Communications at the British Heart Foundation, said: “Huge strides have been made over the last ten years improving the treatment and care people receive. We have shown what can be done by focusing the talent and resources of the health service under one umbrella plan.”

“But without a future plan we run the risk of that progress slipping away. We need a coherent integrated policy and not promises of reviews if we are to meet the health challenges ahead.

“Patients, charities, doctors and nurses have come up with a vision of how to tackle the country’s leading cause of death. We want this thinking to inform a new plan to galvanise and direct the work of the health service for the next decade.”