Launched in 2003, Heart of Mersey (HoM) is based on the successful model of CHD prevention developed in North Karelia, Finland, and is a regional demonstration project for England with the World Health Organisation's Countrywide Integrated Non-communicable Diseases Intervention (CINDI).

Eighty percent of CHD is preventable.  Since poor diet is responsible for around half of all deaths from this disease, HoM works closely with a wide range of statutory and voluntary partners to meet diet-related targets.  Other health problems like obesity, some cancers and Type 2 diabetes are also addressed through the HoM programme.

With the backing of five primary care trusts (PCTs) listed below, six local authorities and others, HoM's role is to effect policy change by supporting organisations across Greater Merseyside to take action on matters that influence heart health.

This dynamic prevention programme developed out of a visit to Finland by a group of health professionals keen to discover why heart disease rates there had reduced dramatically in recent years. The group found that Finland's approach - a population-wide intervention programme - resulted in a drastic reduction in saturated fat intake and CHD rates falling by 75%.

It was just what the doctor ordered! Back in England Heart of Mersey was launched with a pledge to reduce Merseyside's biggest killer through a mass prevention programme that would address the main causes of this disease, namely:-

Poor diet

Smoking

Lack of exercise

The 5 PCTs supporting the HoM programme include: 
Wirral PCT www.wirralpct.nhs.uk 
Liverpool PCT www.liverpoolpct.nhs.uk
Halton & St.Helens PCT www.haltonandsthelenspct.nhs.uk
Knowsley PCT www.knowsleypct.nhs.uk 
Sefton PCT www.southseftonpct.nhs.uk

Pictured above: Professor Pekka Puska (centre), Director General of Finland's National Public Health Institute (KTL), with Robin Ireland and Dr. Chris Birt from HoM.