Ministers to seize control of the NHS in huge shake-up including powers to put fluoride in water, enforce junk food health warnings and tackle obesity

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9230219/Biggest-NHS-shake-decade.html

Fluoride eh? Too many Brits thinking for themselves now need to be sedated into complying with their agenda?

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The NHS will be ordered to focus on changing patients' lifestyles as well as treating illnesses under new Government plans - which could see ministers seize control of healthcare.

Ministers are concerned about rising levels of disease linked to poor diet and lack of exercise, such as Type 2 diabetes and obesity, a leaked document shows.

It acknowledges smoking rates have fallen in recent years but warns the UK's growing and ageing population is suffering from more long-term conditions.

Health chiefs will be tasked with not only treating diseases such as cancer, but also helping to prevent them by encouraging people to become more active.

The draft policy paper, leaked to Health Policy Insight, also reveals Boris Johnson has plans to reverse controversial reforms of NHS England which were brought about under the 2012 Health and Social Care Act.

Ministers reportedly plan to centralise decision-making in the service and reduce the role of the private sector, giving the Government power to block the closure of hospitals and overrule bosses in what could be the biggest health reform for a decade.

Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt today said the reforms could be a 'positive' step towards 'joined-up care.'

The plans will be complemented with separate measures to restrict junk food advertising and putting calorie labels on alcohol.

It could also give Government the power to put flouride in water to help prevent tooth decay, something only councils were able to do in the past.

Ministers are becoming increasingly frustrated with local leaders resistant to adding flouride due to budgetary constraints, The Times reports.