The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7219 p513
12 October 2002

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Scottish heart and stroke plan launched

Scotland's first strategy to combat heart disease and stroke has set a target to halve deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke among Scots aged under 75 years by 2010.

In addition, it says every health board should have a locally managed clinical network for CHD and stroke by April 2004, and that a national register for these diseases will be established by the end of 2005. Clinical pharmacy leaders will be appointed by the Scottish Executive Health Department in 2004, to support the extension of pharmaceutical care in CHD and stroke.

An extra £40m from the Scottish Executive's budget has been ring-fenced to help fund implementation of the new strategy, which was unveiled last week. Some of the money will be used to provide more specialist stroke units, to help reduce waiting times for angiography and surgery or angioplasty, and for staff training. Launching the strategy, First Minister Jack McConnell said: "We will bring a new focus to giving children a healthy start in life and encourage a lifetime of healthy habits as part of our health improvement programme.

"The emphasis on prevention and treatment in this strategy sets the tone for the White Paper on health reform, which we will publish this winter."

"Coronary heart disease and stroke: strategy for Scotland" can be found on the internet via the PJ Online links page.