YORK-born health secretary Frank Dobson was today unveiling a major new consultation document which would put the links between poverty and poor health firmly back on the agenda.

The green paper he was launching this afternoon in the House of Commons was also expected to herald a new 'preventative' approach to health care, with more emphasis on housing, social services and healthy lifestyles.

It also sets out four new 'priority' areas for health: heart disease and stroke, accidents, cancer and mental health.

Two of those could be of particular relevance to North Yorkshire, which has above average suicide rates and more people dying from accidents than many other parts of the country.

York MP Hugh Bayley, who published a pamphlet two years ago calling for recognition of the links between social deprivation and health, said today: "This is long overdue. In the last parliament I called for just this approach to health. I'm delighted to see the ministry moving to make this happen.

"The government's policy makes health everybody's business. Every government ministry, every local council and the public themselves will have responsibility to cut the appalling burden of unnecessary death and disease."

The green paper was also welcomed today by health professionals and watchdogs in York - though they said they wanted to see more details of concrete proposals.

Local GP and British Medical Association spokesman Dr Tony Sweeney said: "It has to be welcomed. One of the important points that has to be made is that social forces do have an impact on people's health or ill health. Before we can begin to address these problems, we have to accept that they exist."

Alan Hartley, chairman of the York branch of health watchdog the Community Health Council, said he was keen to get more details of the proposals.

But he said: "If it means going back to the original principles of the NHS and the welfare state, then we welcome it."

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