Healthy eating

Everyone over 40 in England is to be given a blood test to identify if unhealthy eating has affected their metabolism. If so, they will be enrolled on healthy living programmes, including cookery lessons and exercise coaching.

They cost £435, less than a Baby Box, but reduction in diabetes Type 2 cases is expected to be enormous.

Why can’t NHS Scotland do this? Treating illness caused by obesity and diabetes costs £8.8 billion in England, equivalent to £800 million out of NHS Scotland’s £13 billion budget.

ALLAN SUTHERLAND

Willow Row, Stonehaven