Margot James highlights the need to prevent heart disease
14th July 2010
Margot James, MP for Stourbridge, hosted and addressed a series of events in parliament on Monday. The events, organised with Partners in Health, aimed to encourage better prevention of heart disease.
Heart disease is the UK’s number one killer and prevention remains the best way to stop it, but that often requires people to change their lifestyles.
Margot, whose speech focussed on the need for better public health, was joined by Prof. Keith Fox, Prof. Neil Poulter and Dr Fran Sivers, CEO of the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society, the lead charity in Partners in Health. All contributors underlined the need for better prevention. There were also health-checks ongoing in parliament all day.
Prof. Poulter launched a study of MPs heatlh over the lifetime of this parliament. 30 MPs and Peers received health checks throughout the day including cholesterol, blood pressure and lung function tests. The tests will be repeated at various points in the future and the results compared to a control group from outside Parliament. Margot was happy to have her own health checked by Nurse Chrissie Briddon and was given a clean bill of health.
Partners in Health is a new initiative which brings together government, the NHS, charities and life sciences companies to promote joined up healthcare and sharing of best practice to benefit people with and at risk of heart and lung disease.
The recent increases in obesity and type 2 diabetes are of particular concern regarding heart disease. Margot welcomed the Government’s White Paper, announced on the same day, which aims to devolve health decision-making in this area to GPs.
Margot said “I am delighted to be associated with Partners in Health. We need better prevention for heart disease which is still the number 1 killer in the UK. I was especially pleased to have my health checked along with many other MPs. Hopefully this will focus me on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”
Photo: Margot having her health checked at an event to encourage better prevention of heart disease.
