“Promoting active lifestyles is the simple answer to many of the big challenges facing our country today. It can save us money and ease the burden on public services. The NHS has the green light to be bold and creative to help people to be fitter and more healthy.”
With more than two and half million people on incapacity benefit in Britain, if just one per cent of those people adopted healthier lifestyles, significant savings could be made to the economy. Combined, they cost the Exchequer £13 billion and industry £11 billion a year. More than a third of these people are on benefits because of mental health problems or muscular or skeletal disorders – both of which are known to respond well to tailored physical activity programmes.
And the NHS spends £3,000 every minute on combating illness which could be prevented by physical activity. A modest increase in physical activity amongst older people could cut hip fractures by one per cent, saving us more than £200 million a year. A 20 per cent increase in cycling would save the NHS more than £50 million in treatments.”
Andy Burnham MP – Health minister