He said: “A heart attack can cost £20,000 to treat. If it can be prevented, that has huge cost implications. “I would estimate 50 to 70 per cent of my patients’ medical costs would not just be reduced but eliminated if their diets were healthier and they exercised more. This could save the NHS billions of pounds.”
Dr Chand was responding to BMA research which found preventable ill-health accounted for half of all GP appointments, 64 per cent of outpatient appointments and 70 per cent of inpatient bed days.
Smoking and poor diet were shown to be responsible for the highest number of preventable deaths.
Dr Chand said the most deprived in society were at highest risk.
He urged the Government to increase tax on cigarettes, introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol and restrict marketing of unhealthy food and drinks.
“Lifestyle principles across the board are much more powerful than anything a doctor can do for his patients.
“The demand on health services could be cut by as much as an estimated 40 per cent with the right investment in services to reduce smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and diet,” he said.
BMA Board of Science chair Professor Dame Parveen Kumar, said: “The BMA is calling on the Government to make the population’s health a priority by putting prevention as the focus of their future planning, with the necessary investment in services to tackle smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and diet.”