Preventing chronic diseaseand promoting sustainable social policy

Anna Coote Commissioner for Health, UKSDC

December 2007

Sustainable development

Why prevention matters

Sustainable prevention

Identifying barriers

Towards a sustainable social policy

Sustainable development

LIVING WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL

LIMITS

ENSURING A STRONG, HEALTHY AND JUST

SOCIETY

ACHIEVING A SUSTAINABLE

ECONOMY

PROMOTING GOOD

GOVERNANCE

USING SOUND SCIENCE

RESPONSIBLY

Preventing chronic disease

Releases resources for treating unavoidable illness

Improves individual health and well being

Secures long-term viability of health services

Safeguards the future

Sustainable development

Preventing chronic disease

Preventing environmental

damage

Sustainable development

Preventing chronic disease

Preventing environmental

damage

Sustainable social policy

WHO, 2005

Projected global distribution of chronic disease deaths

Obesity

One in four people affected

Nearly 1 in 3 children under 11 overweight or obese by 2010

Strong links with diabetes, heart disease and other illness

Counting the cost£49 million on health and social care services

£3.65 billion in associated costs

£3.7 billion in England each year.

Depression

By 2020, the second greatest contributor to the burden of disease for all ages and both sexes (WHO, 2007)

Does more damage to health than four major chronic conditions: angina, arthritis, asthma and diabetes. (Lancet, 2007)

Mental health problems

1 in 6 people affected

Anxiety and depression most common

Often leads to physical illness

Counting the cost

£12 billion on health and social care services

£23 billion in lost economic output from people unable to work

£41 billion from reduced quality of life and premature death

£76 billion in England each year.

Poverty

Chronic disease

Chronic disease

Poverty

“The major causes of chronic diseases are known, and if these risk factors were eliminated, at least 80% of all heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes would be prevented; over 40% of cancer would be prevented.”

WHO, Preventing Chronic Disease: a vital investment

“Common, modifiable risk factors explain the vast majority of chronic disease deaths at all ages, in men and women, in all parts of the world. They include

physical inactivity

tobacco use

unhealthy diet”

WHO, Preventing Chronic Disease: a vital investment

Obesity system map with thematic clusters Foresight 2007 fig 8.1

Exercise

Diet

Contact with natural environments

Promote active travel

Combatglobal

warming

Healthier people

and planet

Reduce risks

of chronicdisease

Reduce roadtraffic

Fresh, affordable, local food

Prevent damage to

environment

Healthier people

and planet

Reduce risksof chronicdisease

Strongerlocal

economies

Getting out more

Protecting natural environments

“We are strongly persuaded that access to good quality green space provides an effective, population-wide strategy for the promotion of good health, well-being and quality of life… we are convinced that the evidence is sufficiently strong to warrant amending planning guidance to recognise the health benefits of green space and to build green space into new and existing developments”

Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, 2007

More access to

green spaces

Sustainthe natural

environment

Healthier people

and planet

Reduce risks

of chronicdisease

Better physical and

mental health

??

‘Producer capture’

Less investment in research

Political short-termism

Professional training

Media campaigns

‘Downstream’ measures

Barriers to change

Most chronic disease is preventable People want to stay well Sustainable development helps prevents

disease Unsustainable development is a major risk to

health Health professionals must take responsibility for

tackling climate change High costs of failing to prevent will overwhelm

health systems, wasting resources better spent elsewhere

The evidence

Securing our Future Health, HM Treasury, 2002

Climate Change and Health Council declaration, 2007

“We as health professionals and health managers, concerned about the effects of climate change on global health and the environment … Call on individual health professionals to measure and reduce their own carbon footprint and to push for health-related institutions to adopt sustainable practices…”

Connections between household energy efficiency and health

The Lancet, September 2007

The NHS spends

£90 billion a year

If it were a country its economy would rank

30th in the world

Good Corporate Citizenship

How NHS organisations contribute to sustainable development through their corporate activities - ProcurementEmploymentTravel plansManaging energy, waste and waterBuildings and landscapingCommunity engagement.

“Identifying ways to reduce the causalfactors of climate change – mitigation –and effectively help populations andsystems deal with risks and threats posed by climate change – adaptation – especially for vulnerable populations, can lead to a greater sense of security and control and result in improved population health. The health sector can and should be at the heart of this.”WHO Europe, 2005

“This is a new dimension forpublic health which reverses the traditional thinking: from describing what has already occurred and identifying and reducing specific risk factors, to taking action on the basis ofprediction and early warning to prevent health consequences in large populations.”WHO Europe, 2005

Towards a

sustainable

social policy

Sustain through

prevention

Prevent the

preventable

A saferfuture

Prevent through

sustainability

Manage unavoidable

disease

Better health,

better use ofresources

Thank youwww.sd-commission.org.uk