Vol. 542 No. 2
350 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason the primary care cardiovascular strategy, due to be launched in autumn 2001, will not be up and running until the start of 2002 at the very earliest. [24305/01]
The Advisory Forum on the Cardiovascular Health Strategy, which advises the Heart Health Task Force and my Department on the prioritisation of various technical issues associated with the implementation of the cardiovascular health strategy, established a steering group on secondary prevention for patients with cardiovascular disease in general practice.
The advisory forum recently accepted a proposal on a national programme in general practice for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease from its steering group. This advice is being considered as a matter of urgency by my Department, which involves discussions with key stakeholders in such a programme on how to advance this proposal at the earliest opportunity.
