Health Protection Agency Hails 60 Years Of NHS Success, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 03 Jul 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Justin McCracken, Chief Executive of the Health Protection Agency, has congratulated the NHS on its achievements over the past 60 years since its inception.

He said: "The NHS is recognised world wide, as one of this country's greatest institutions. Since the Health Protection Agency was formed in 2003, we have been privileged to work in close partnership with the NHS to improve public health and protect communities from infectious disease and from environmental, chemical and radiation hazards.

"To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NHS, we have charted the key health protection initiatives that have been introduced during those 60 momentous years with the aim of helping people to stay as healthy and as free from disease as possible. (The timeline is available on the Agency's website).

"For example, the conquering of smallpox and polio and the eradication in the UK of widespread TB, measles, mumps, rubella and meningococcal Group C infection are among the greatest achievements of the past 60 years. The impact of childhood immunisation programmes on these diseases (through eradication or reduction in numbers of cases) has been dramatic but the change in levels of such infections also reflects the enormous amount of hard work devoted to this by NHS frontline staff, supported in recent years by our own staff here at the Agency.

"There are of course challenges ahead with the emergence of new diseases, antimicrobial resistance and climate change. The NHS is well equipped to meet these and, together with other partner agencies, we look forward to continuing to deploy our expertise in all areas of health protection to support them in their ongoing drive to make communities safer and healthier."

Note

- . Health Protection timelines can be viewed here

- For further information or to arrange interviews on any aspect of health protection over the past 60 years or into the future, please contact the Centre for Infections Press Office on 020 83277750 or Hugh Lamont on 0151 4825728 or 07764 906508.

Health Protection Agency