People In Deprived Areas Missing Out On Vital Heart Health Services, Says Heart Charity

Main Category: Heart Disease
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 20 Sep 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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In response to a report published by the Care Quality Commission which examined how the prescription of statins and stop smoking services could best be used to tackle cardiovascular disease and health inequalities, Betty McBride, Policy & Communications Director at the British Heart Foundation, said:

"Despite significant progress in reducing premature death from cardiovascular disease, it is alarming to find that people in deprived areas are missing out on vital health services.

"If we are to give people in deprived areas the services they deserve we clearly need to prioritise them in future plans. This is a national problem and needs a nationally integrated solution, one which puts tackling inequalities at the core of cardiac and vascular planning, and incentivises healthcare professionals to make the difference.

"As the NHS faces up to rising financial pressures, preventative measures such as the effective use of generic statins and investment in smoking cessation services can prove a cost effective way to improve the heart health of the nation."

Source
The British Heart Foundation

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