BMA Cymru Wales manifesto for a healthier Wales
June 2006
Public health issues
The BMA calls on the new Welsh Assembly Government to:
Ban smoking in public places
Too many people continue to be exposed to tobacco smoke both at work and in public places. Passive smoking increases the risk of lung cancer and heart disease and is particularly serious for children. It is one of the factors linked to cot death and low birth weight in babies; and is associated with asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia. Voluntary agreements to introduce more smoke-free places have not worked. Wales needs to protect the health of its citizens by following the example of other countries in introducing legislation to ban smoking at work and in all enclosed public places as soon as possible. Over the last few years, BMA Cymru Wales has been the leading advocate of the banning of smoking in public places in Wales. We will continue to put pressure on the Welsh Assembly Government to enforce a ban as soon as possible.
Lower the limit for drink driving
The campaign against drink driving has been a success but a further reduction in the drink driving limit is now needed to reduce further the deaths on our roads. The BMA wants to see a reduction from the present 80mgs of alcohol to the European norm of 50mgs per 1OOml in line with the recommendations of the Association of Chief Police Officers and also supports the introduction of random roadside breath testing.
Address the growing problem of drug-related road accidents
Driving under the influence of drugs both legal and illegal is becoming an increasingly serious problem. The number of fatal road accidents in which the driver has taken illegal drugs has increased substantially in recent years. BMA Cymru Wales would like the dangers of drug driving highlighted through a public awareness campaign and more research carried out into the use of effective roadside drug testing devices.
Improve health services for asylum seekers
Not enough is being done to safeguard the health of asylum seekers. Adequate funding and access to a complete range of hospital services should be in place. This should be backed up with appropriate information, and accessible interpreter services.
Sexually transmitted infections (STls) are a growing problem in Wales, particularly among teenagers. The rate of STls declined in the late 1980s and early 1990s when AIDS awareness was at its height. A generation of young people has grown up since then and further campaigns based on initiatives known to work are needed to alert them to the risks.
Promote sensible drinking, particularly among the young
Alcohol misuse is a huge problem in Wales. One in three men and one in seven women exceed recommended drinking levels and the problems are greater among the young. Underage drinking is a growing problem. Drinking above the recommended limits harms health and there is concern at patterns of binge drinking in Wales. Alcohol is associated with other problems including casual unprotected sex, crime and disorder. BMA Cymru Wales would like to see a public awareness campaign about the dangers of excessive consumption of alcohol with particular emphasis on the risks to health. We are also concerned about the marketing of alcopops with high alcohol content to young people. People who develop unhealthy patterns of drinking in their teenage years are at greater risk of developing dependence on alcohol in adulthood.
Tackle Wales’ history of poor diet
The Welsh diet has long been implicated in our poor health record. It continues to be too high in fat, salt and sugars and too low in fruit and vegetables. Our eating habits and low levels of physical activity are leading to increasing rates of obesity. More than half of Welsh adults are now overweight or obese. Healthy food must be affordable, accessible and appetising. We need to educate Welsh people, particularly the young, on the benefits of a healthy diet in preventing obesity, diabetes and cancer. Many people living in deprived areas have limited access to fresh fruit and vegetables. Convenience foods that contain high levels of fat, sugar and salt, are readily available and are seen as being cheaper and quicker to prepare than healthy alternatives. Relatively small subsidies would enable local food co-operatives to make fresh fruit and vegetables available at an affordable price through small local shops to people living in deprived areas and represent a highly effective long-term investment in people's health. Healthy eating should be promoted and facilitated in schools and the wider school community.
Promote exercise and encourage cycling
BMA Cymru Wales welcomes the establishment of a strategy to increase levels of participation in physical activity in Wales. Physical inactivity is one of the contributors to coronary heart disease in Wales, a disease which currently affects half a million Welsh people a year and contributed to 12,400 deaths in 2000. The BMA would also welcome a strategy to encourage more people to take up cycling rather than using motor transport. This should include better provision of cycle networks and appropriate environmental measures to make the cycling environment as safe as possible. This would include dedicated cycling paths, and reduction of speed limits for motorised traffic in urban residential areas and around schools.
Communicable diseases
Emerging communicable diseases can have a severe impact on society, and be disruptive to health services, as exemplified by SARS. Pandemic influenza could occur at any time. Consideration should be given to the availability of healthcare facilities for communicable diseases that spread readily between humans. Wales should be ready to deal with infections that pose a potential major threat to the population. This includes the provision of adequate resources to allow the NHS and other public services to respond adequately, and advice to the public from government on what they can do to protect themselves and others.