Sturgeon health plans 'rehash of old pledge'

NICOLA Sturgeon attempted to seize the initiative on healthcare yesterday, announcing a series of measures to tackle ill health in Scotland at the SNP conference in Aviemore.

She confirmed that online self assessment checks for over-40s, as well as face-to-face "heart MOTs" and "brief interventions" on alcohol misuse, are to be rolled out across Scotland.

But opponents accused the Health Secretary of a "watered down rehash" of an as yet unfulfilled manifesto pledge from 2007.

Ms Sturgeon announced the web-based assessments – called "Life Begins at 40" – would begin in Grampian in April before being introduced elsewhere after a review. The "heart MOTs", which will be offered free to all 40- to 74-year-olds, will begin in 2011, after a suitable health board is identified to run a pilot scheme.

And the alcohol interventions, which are already in use in Scotland, will see 60,000 more people across the country given "short motivational interviews" about their problem drinking from healthcare professionals.

Ms Sturgeon said: "Prevention is better than cure and we are committed to doing all that we can to identify those at risk from heart disease, diabetes and stroke as early as possible."

She added: "Brief interventions are not only clinically effective but also cost effective. By intervening early, we can save money and, more importantly, lives."

But Tory health spokeswoman Mary Scanlon said: "Nicola Sturgeon's 'announcements' were just a watered-down rehash of the SNP manifesto. Three years later the SNP is only now getting round to starting to implement them as it stares an election in the face.

"Sadly, this is an all-too-familiar story when it comes to SNP pledges. They promised health checks for everyone 40 and over, delivered by GPs. This has now become a pilot for a heart MoT in some health boards and a web-based assessment in one board."