Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson Ross Finnie has backed calls from Scotland's Chief Medical Officer calling for a more preventative approach to tackling Scotland's health problems.

Dr Harry Burns has said that 5,000 lives a year could be saved if Scots took simple steps to leading healthier lives. He has also urged Scots to think of cancer as a disease that "is to a great extent preventable".

Commenting, Mr Finnie said:

"Liberal Democrats have long believed that the NHS has to move from being a sickness service to a health promotion service. We must adopt a more preventative approach to tackling Scotland's health problems.

"Today's report from Scotland's Chief Medical Officer only underlines the need to shift the emphasis onto prevention rather than treating sickness, starting with the promotion of healthier lifestyles."