A �40m strategy to reduce the number of deaths from coronary heart disease (CHD) and strokes has been unveiled by the Scottish Executive.

It aims to improve Scotland's "shocking" health record by cutting CHD and stroke deaths in half among the under 75s by 2010.

Cash will also be used to reduce waiting times for potentially life-saving angiography and angioplasty procedures in the next two years.

The British Medical Association (BMA) welcomed the strategy but stressed that it had to be backed up by proper staff training and recruitment.

Jack McConnell: "Big three" must be tackled

Launching the strategy in Edinburgh, First Minister Jack McConnell said Scotland still had one of the worst health records in Europe.

He said: "Improving the shameful health record of Scots, to create a Scottish society fit for the challenges of the 21 century, is one of the key issues facing us as a nation.

"It demands the high level of investment and reform we are making in the NHS to enhance patients' treatment, improve services and support the efforts of NHS staff.

"It is simply unacceptable to invest record amounts of money and still have one of the worst health records in Western Europe.

"Scotland's first heart disease and stroke strategy will cut the number of people dying from two of our 'big three' killers."

Key features of the new strategy include:

• The creation of locally managed clinical networks for CHD and stroke in each every NHS Board area by 2004

• The creation of national databases for CHD and stroke to provide detailed information about the care patients are receiving from their GPs

• A commitment to create additional specialist stroke units to treat 5000 more patients a year

• A commitment to prevent 200 fewer deaths and provide support to 300 more patients returning home after stroke.

Talks between ministers and NHS chiefs will soon take place to implement training for existing and new medical staff to support the strategy.

The development of the stroke elements of the strategy will be overseen by Professor Martin Dennis at the Western General in Edinburgh.

Dr Bill O'Neill, BMA Scottish Secretary, said: "The success of the Action Plan - and progress in the prevention and treatment of CHD and stroke - cannot be achieved without a commitment to increase staffing and training.

'Real potential'

"We welcome the commitment to train additional cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and stroke physicians together with specialist nurses and others.

"We now need the courage to look beyond the boundaries of Scotland to achieve our targets."

He said smoking, poor diet and lack of physical exercise were undisputed risk factors for CHD and stroke improvements in diet.

Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland's Chief Executive David Clark said the strategy had "real potential" to address the poor health record.