NCC reports on the cost of health
27/06/2006
A National Consumer Council (NCC) report on UK health is being seen as "a blueprint for how social marketing can dramatically improve the impact of government health campaigns", according to its author.
Dr Jeff French, who is also director of the NCC's National Social Marketing Centre, says that his report aims to build "positive relationships" between the government and the health sector "to deliver improvements".
The report, It's our Health, which was launched yesterday, could impact upon health insurance policies and people's attitude towards them.
Included within the publication is the fact that there is a £187 billion cost to the country of preventable ill health.
This is caused by factors such as smoking, poor diet, alcohol, unsafe sex and obesity, which can all have an affect on people's health insurance.
NCC chief executive, Ed Mayo, said: "The NHS has never invested in a marketing approach to public health and yet evidence from countries such as Canada and Australia is that it works well.
"We estimate that a five per cent increase in healthy behaviour could save the NHS and care services close to £1 billion, which is equivalent to the projected NHS deficit."
In related news this week, chairman of the British Medical Association, James Johnson, criticised the supermarket-attitude to choice in the NHS.
He said: In America, people with health insurance have loads of choice and lots of competition.
"But … prices are rocketing up. The very last thing the UK should do is go for the American model of healthcare."
Dr Jeff French, who is also director of the NCC's National Social Marketing Centre, says that his report aims to build "positive relationships" between the government and the health sector "to deliver improvements".
The report, It's our Health, which was launched yesterday, could impact upon health insurance policies and people's attitude towards them.
Included within the publication is the fact that there is a £187 billion cost to the country of preventable ill health.
This is caused by factors such as smoking, poor diet, alcohol, unsafe sex and obesity, which can all have an affect on people's health insurance.
NCC chief executive, Ed Mayo, said: "The NHS has never invested in a marketing approach to public health and yet evidence from countries such as Canada and Australia is that it works well.
"We estimate that a five per cent increase in healthy behaviour could save the NHS and care services close to £1 billion, which is equivalent to the projected NHS deficit."
In related news this week, chairman of the British Medical Association, James Johnson, criticised the supermarket-attitude to choice in the NHS.
He said: In America, people with health insurance have loads of choice and lots of competition.
"But … prices are rocketing up. The very last thing the UK should do is go for the American model of healthcare."
