Today we mark the first anniversary of Better Health, Fairer Health so I thought I would reflect on progress to date.

Improving our traditionally poor health in the North East and transforming ourselves into the healthiest region in the country is obviously a long-term project.

We have given ourselves 25 years to turn this dream into reality…and after the first 12 months the signs are promising.

Earlier this week Balance – the country’s first regional alcohol office – was launched in Darlington.

We are confident this will give us the regional focus we need to reduce the harm caused to individuals, their families and society as a whole by excessive drinking.

There was also good news on the smoking front last month with the revelation that prevalence in the North East had dropped from 29% in 2005 to 22% in 2007, the biggest reduction anywhere in the country.

That represents a significant shift which, should it become a long-term trend, will make major inroads into the number of premature deaths caused by what is still the region’s biggest killer.

Nine of the ten advisory groups established to take the work of Better Health, Fairer Health forward are now up and running and making major strides in deciding their priorities.