New report highlights need for liver disease action

A new government report has underlined the importance of combating liver disease, which has become an increasingly large problem for the UK health service.

Compiled by chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies, the study indicates that deaths from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis among under-65s increased by around 20 percent between 2000 and 2009.

This makes England one of the few countries in the EU where a major cause of preventable death is on the increase, as all three major causes of liver disease – obesity, undiagnosed infection and harmful drinking – can be avoided.

It was also discovered that one-third of adults have three or more risk factors that can increase their chances of poor health, such as raised cholesterol, diabetes or being overweight.

Dame Sally said: "I hope the data that I have provided will become a major tool for the Department of Health, Public Health England and local authorities as they draw up their strategies for improving public health."

This comes after the chief medical officer issued a warning earlier this week on the growing danger posed by antibiotic resistance.