Practitioners urged to intervene on health

Ministers last week backed the recommendations of an advisory body that all clinicians, including 'opticians' should 'make every contact count'.

A report from the NHS Future Forum last November highlighted that every contact made with a doctor, pharmacist, dentist, optician or any clinician was an opportunity for the clinician to raise matters about smoking, alcohol, diet and exercise. This would have a significant impact on prevention of major illness, claimed the report.

The new support from ministers for the policy suggests the coalition government agrees. Health secretary Andrew Lansley said: 'The NHS Future Forum has again provided invaluable feedback and advice on what the NHS needs to do to improve results and put the NHS truly on the side of patients.'