IT’S official – the SNP Government is good for your health, or at least for those who might be prone to heart attacks and strokes.
According to new independent health statistics published yesterday, death rates from heart disease and strokes have both fallen by a third since 2007 when the SNP first took the reigns of government.
Since then, mortality rates for coronary heart disease have dropped by 36 per cent and death rates from strokes have fallen 33 per cent over the same period.
Incidence rates for coronary heart disease have also fallen by 25 per cent since 2006-07 while incidence of cerebrovascular disease (CVD), of which stroke is one of the most common types, has fallen by 13 per cent over the same period.
Survival rates of people suffering their first emergency admission with a heart attack have increased over the last decade – by eight per cent overall, and by 14 per cent in people over 75.
The number of prescriptions for drugs to treat diseases of the circulation, including cerebrovascular and coronary heart disease, increased by 10.5 per cent in the last 10 years, although the trend has levelled off over the last six years. Despite this increase, the cost of prescriptions dispensed for these drugs has halved over the last 10 years to £109.5 million in 2014-15.
Maureen Watt, Minister for Public Health, said: “Heart disease and stroke are two of the most significant causes of death in Scotland, so it’s clearly encouraging to see mortality rates continuing to fall.
“These figures show that our strategy for tackling heart disease and stroke is delivering real improvements for patients.
“The decreases are also a sign of better public awareness of the causes of these conditions, and what to do if you or someone you know has a heart attack or a stroke.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here