The government has selected four key targets for 2010 to replace the 27 in The Health of the Nation:

to cut the death rate from heart disease and stroke and related illnesses among under 65s by at least a further third (from 66.2 per 100,000 population to 44.1 per 100,000 population);

to reduce accidents by at least a fifth (from 20 per 100 people to 16 per 100 people);

to reduce the death rate from cancer among under 65s by at least a further fifth (from 81 per 100,000 to 64.8 per 100, 000);

to reduce the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least a further sixth (from 9.2 per 100,000 to 7.6 per 100,000).

The Journal revealed the targets last month (22 January), when it reported on a draft of Our Healthier Nation, which is little different from the final version.

Launching the green paper last week, health secretary Frank Dobson said far too many people were falling ill more often and dying sooner than they should