Health issues covered in this report include;

Progress on previous years' recommendations;

The undermining of price increases of tobacco (to reduce consumption) through smuggling;

Greater action and consistent standards of care on chronic obstructive pulomnary airways disease (COPD);

The posibilities for improving health through influencing food purchasing and procurement policies of public bodies;

An increase in occurences of gastroschisis in babies;

And concern over slow compliance of patient safety alerts in the NHS.

Also included is a regional focus on some local problems, trends and initiatives across England.