BMA Cymru Wales manifesto for a healthier Wales
June 2006
Health Challenge Wales
BMA Cymru Wales fully supports Health Challenge Wales and would support further development in educating, informing and raising awareness of health issues. There are several issues that adversely affect health, which the new government of Wales needs to tackle urgently:
- access to parks for children
- better sporting facilities
- fresh fruit should be accessible to all at prices they can afford
- good quality school dinners available at all Welsh schools
- local food produce should be accessible and affordable to all.
The new Welsh Assembly Government should provide statistics on the effect of increased opening hours on binge drinking. BMA Cymru Wales calls for happy hours to be disbanded without delay.
BMA Cymru Wales notes with concern a study by Cardiff University which found hospitals in areas of Wales where cheap alcohol is sold, treat more assault victims. A recent Audit Commission report also found that assaults against staff working in A&E departments across Wales have increased.
In an attempt to tackle alcohol related assaults, BMA Cymru Wales calls on the new Welsh Assembly Government to take immediate action to prevent cheap alcohol promotions in communities across Wales.
Cigarettes and alcohol
The new Welsh Assembly Government should be more active in denying supply of alcohol and tobacco to minors and the minimum legal age for the purchase and sale of cigarettes should be raised from 16 to 18 years.
Car parking at hospitals
BMA Cymru Wales condemns the extortionate car parking fees charged by some NHS trusts, and demands an end to this unashamed income generation at the expense of patients, visitors and NHS staff.
Drug/substance abuse
Over-the-counter (OTC) drug addiction is a growing public health concern that requires action now through: (i) clear labeling on OTC medicines that contain addictive substances; (ii) training programmes for all medical professionals to raise awareness of the problem; (iii) clear clinical guidelines set out by the UK health departments on how drug addiction services should manage OTC drug dependent patients.
Community care
BMA Cymru Wales urges the new government to ensure that psychiatric services to prison services in Wales should be no less than that which is available to NHS psychiatric patients.
Carers
Increased funding to support carers who look after people in their own homes is essential to reduce ill health, stress and mental health problems often associated with the task of caring. The cared for patient is less likely to need hospital admission if he/she can be cared for at home.
Hospital based infections
Doctors, nurses and other hospital staff, patients and visitors all have a role to play in preventing and controlling healthcare associated infections [HCAIs]
HCAIs including methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (C.difficile) contribute to the death of up to 5,000 people in the UK every year. These so-called ‘super-bugs’ cost the NHS up to £1 billion per year. A 15 per cent reduction in the incidence of HCAIs would free up around £150 million every year for other NHS resources.
BMA Cymru Wales calls for all patients to be educated that antibiotics are not the solution for every illness, and prescribers should not bow to pressure to provide antibiotics for viral illnesses.
Suicide
BMA Cymru Wales recognises that suicide rates among the Welsh population remain low. However, we are concerned that suicide rates among young people in Wales are five times higher than compared to England.
The BMA therefore calls on all political parties and the new Welsh Assembly Government to:
- develop fully integrated guidance, advice and support on suicide prevention for all age groups
- develop and publish guidance on actions to be taken at hotspots for suicide
- improve the way suicide and suicidal behaviour is portrayed in the media
- publish an information and support pack for people bereaved by sudden traumatic death, including suicide
- encourage mental health services to provide early follow up to high risk patients who are discharged from hospital
- implement the NICE guidance on depression and self-harm.
BMA Cymru Wales calls on the new Welsh Assembly Government to encourage NHS trusts to go further than the proposed ban on smoking in enclosed public places to include all hospital grounds.
Blood alcohol concentration level
BMA Cymru Wales calls on the new Welsh Assembly Government to reduce the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level for driving from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml as a means of cutting road deaths and bringing Wales in line with many other European countries.
Fluoridation of drinking water
BMA Cymru Wales calls on the political parties and the new Welsh Assembly Government to support, in principle, the fluoridation of water as a means of reducing dental health inequalities. Furthermore, BMA Cymru Wales calls on the new Welsh Assembly Government to seek to change the law to oblige water companies to fluoridate water supplies where there is strong local support for doing so.
Fireworks
BMA Cymru Wales calls on the new Welsh Assembly Government to take tough action to restrict the availability and sale of fireworks, especially to youngsters. In Wales, thousands of people attend A&E departments in our hospitals each year suffering from injuries sustained from appalling firework burns.
Sunbeds
There are significant health risks associated with the use of sunbeds.
The British Photodermatology Group recommends that sunbeds are not used at all, but if they are this should be limited to no more than two courses a year of no more than 10 sessions each. However, research shows that some people are having more than 100 sunbed sessions in one year.
BMA Cymru Wales believes that we really need to educate people about the dangers of sunbeds and counter the myths about tanning. A suntan is not a sign of good health; a tan, even when there is no burning, always means that the skin has been damaged, a suntan is not nature’s own sunscreen – it does not protect people from ultra-violet radiation.
It is ironic that people use sunbeds because they think they will look better and yet they will probably end up looking old prematurely and possibly getting skin cancer.
As well as educating the public of the health risks of using sunbeds, BMA Cymru Wales would like to see greater regulation of sunbed parlours.