Popular initiatives in the sector such as Free Swimming have already been cut while others are under real threat. To put it into context, the £40million saved on Free Swimming is less than 0.0004% of annual spending on healthcare. Whilst Change4Life is likely to scrape through and live another day, many other perfectly worthy projects are going to go to the wall.
We have already seen accusations in the press that physical activity promotion roles are “non-jobs” and in the first line of cuts. We have also began to see the spending of the Department of Health come into question; when other departments are seeing between 15-30% cuts, is it right that health escapes the firing line? Simon Heffer, hardly a Cameroon but a recognised big beast of conservative thought argued as much in the Daily Mail.
Real leadership is needed around public health and physical activity policy. When we are cutting the amount spent on troops on the front line, you can be sure that segments of the media are going to have a field day on a campaign to get the nation walking. Someone is going to have to be ready with the response to this criticism and stand up to the criticism.
All the indications are that the new Secretary of State Andrew Lansley is the man for the job.
Convinced of the importance of public health, Lansley is not an easy man to shake off his strategy, as was seen by his guarantee from Mr Cameron of the position of Secretary of State.
Fundamentally, he has a very strong case. Without addressing the health of the nation, you can never enhance its wealth. We spend over £100billion per year on healthcare. This is double the 1997 level. Yet demand on healthcare continues to rise. This can not continue. It might not be this Parliament but probably the next which is presented with a choice as to whether a health service remains free at the point of use.
Public health and physical activity in particular, is critical to containing demand on healthcare. Whether it is the aging, fattening or sickening society, physical activity can have an impact and savings can be made.
Currently, physical inactivity including direct costs of treatment for the major lifestyle-related diseases, and the indirect costs caused through sickness absence – has been estimated at £8.2 billion a year.
Furthermore, the direct cost of workplace absenteeism due to preventable illness is estimated at £13.2bn whilst combined with the direct cost, the UK lost £19.9bn to preventable absence in 2007.
Take a few examples. Stroke is the third largest cause of death in the United Kingdom. Over 130,000 strokes occur every year. There are 300,000 people living with a disability as a result of stroke in the UK. The overall cost of Stroke to the economy, including direct & indirect care costs and loss of productivity, is £7 billion a year. Preventing just 2% of strokes that occurred in England could save £37 million within a year. Even just moderate physical activity can reduce the risk of stroke by up to 27%.
There are currently over 2.6 million people with Diabetes in the UK with a further 500,000 cases undiagnosed. Diabetes UK estimates the cost of Diabetes to the NHS at £9 billion a year. The Department of Health, ‘Be Active Be Healthy’ physical activity strategy states that physically active individuals who meet the Chief Medical Officer Guidelines have a 33% reduced risk of developing Diabetes. Therefore, moderate physical activity represents a possible £2.33 billion saving for the NHS.
3.4 million adults in the UK suffer from Coronary Heart Disease. This costs the UK healthcare system around £3.2 billion a year and the overall economy nearly £9 billion a year. According to guidance by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence 35% of CHD is caused by physical inactivity. Moderate levels of physical activity could save £1.5 billion a year.
These are serious numbers and even the Treasury will recognise their significance. Whether it is containing demand on healthcare, helping people to be more productive in work or simply helping people back into work, physical activity has a major role to play.
If we want a wealthy nation, we better make sure it’s healthy first.
Steven Ward, Director of Public Affairs at the FIA
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