article_snippet: NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens, who announced today's initiative, said: 'Today the NHS is starting to practice what we preach - helping we own staff get healthier and prevent illness. '
article_snippet: The 'h' in NHS stands for health, and that's going to require a far bigger emphasis on prevention.'
article_snippet: It comes as Mr Stevens revealed tens of thousands of lives could be saved by a new initiative aimed at preventing people developing type 2 diabetes.
article_snippet: By rolling out a public health scheme in our hospitals we are showing the nation that we are serious about tackling obesity and preventing life-threatening diseases.'
article_snippet: As such, a large proportion of cases could be prevented.
article_snippet: Trials in the US, Japan, China and India have shown 30 to 60 per cent reductions in cases over three years in adults at high risk, after intensive lifestyle changes were introduced.
article_snippet: NHS already spends an estimated £10 billion a year on potentially avoidable illnesses, and the human toll is more than 100 amputations a week and around 20,000 early deaths every year,' Mr Stevens said. '
article_snippet: Yet for over a decade we've known that obesity prevention cuts diabetes and saves lives. '
article_snippet: PHE chief executive Mr Selbie said: 'this programme is putting 'evidence into action' on the ground. '
article_snippet: Experts say the scheme will save lives as well as millions of pounds for the NHS .
article_snippet: British Medical Association (BMA) committee chair, Dr Chaand Nagpaul, said: 'this prevention programme does have the potential to tackle one of the most serious conditions that when identified late can have serious implications for an individual's health, and which is costing the NHS considerably in time and expense. '
article_snippet: GP services are in the front line of treating this condition and GPs will welcome any initiative which seeks to reduce GP services effects on the nation's health. '
article_snippet: We do need to ensure that this prevention programme enables all patients to access appropriate preventative treatments and empowers clinicians to help design the correct services. '
article_snippet: this programme enables all patients to access appropriate preventative treatments and empowers clinicians to help design the correct services must also avoid producing any additional bureaucratic burden on GP services and the wider NHS.'
highlights_snippet: Drive could save lives as well as millions of pounds for the NHS .