Self-inflicted unhealthy 'face NHS cuts'
Smokers could be denied priority treatment due to the burden they cause
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Tuesday, 26, Dec 2006 11:25
Obese people, those suffering from alcohol problems and smokers may not be first in line for NHS treatment if they do not make efforts to amend their unhealthy lifestyles, a newspaper report claims.
The Independent warns that that those whose illnesses are 'self-inflicted' to some extent may not receive priority treatment due to the pressures their lifestyles place upon the NHS.
Whether or not these policies would be implemented depends upon the decisions of the proposed 'people's panels' which would involve ordinary people recruited nationwide in the new year to debate and advise ministers on difficult policy decisions.
Burdens on the NHS caused by 'self-inflicted' illness cost billions of pounds each year and 14,000 of the 12 million smokers in the UK die each year due to smoking-related diseases.
Furthermore, Britain is seen as Europe's fattest country with 20 per cent of adults and one in four children overweight.
The cuts could be used to encourage people to start healthy habits and boost funding to helping agencies. Currently £1.7 billion is spent on alcohol-related problems each year, yet "the treatment of alcohol-related harm, such as violent crime and traffic accidents, costs an estimated £20 billion".
The changes could be tied in with the government's wish to increase the number of 'contracts' between state and citizen.