RADICAL proposals to transform the North-East from the sick-note capital of the country to the healthiest region in England within a generation are unveiled today.

Inspired by the success of the recent workplace smoking ban - which has the highest level of support and compliance in the country in the North-East - health bosses are now thinking the unthinkable.

The detailed draft proposals, contained in a 59-page consultation document called Better Health, Fairer Health, aim to create a sea-change in healthy living within 25 years.

Fed up with piecemeal initiatives, experts plan to tackle binge drinking, smoking, cancer, obesity and physical inactivity head-on.

People living unhealthy life-styles and who do not exercise, binge eaters and binge drinkers, will all be targeted. Initiatives will include free stomach stapling operations, exercise classes and personal trainers.

Officials want the plan to extend beyond the NHS into the school playground and beyond.

They hope construction companies will take up the challenge by designing buildings to encourage people to take the stairs and shun the lift.

Some of the main ideas contained in the draft strategy document include:

* A community-based obesity treatment and support service with full access to surgical and therapeutic options, including stomach-stapling;

* Health trainers to help patients at "future risk of inactivity";

l New NHS-funded fitness programmes for patients recovering from illness;

l Patients "at risk" because of lack of activity should be referred to new NHS-funded fitness programmes;

* Establishing the UK's first campaigning Centre for the Safe Consumption of Alcohol;

* A major publicity drive drawing attention to the link between alcohol and violence, that will change attitudes towards drunkenness;

* Improved support services to help people overcome alcohol problems;

l A major publicity campaign to highlight the damage caused by smoking during pregnancy - one in four babies in the North-East are born to mothers who have smoked during pregnancy, leading to lower birth weights and increased infant mortality;

* Doctors want to see a tough series of targets to reduce smoking from 28 per cent for men and 30 per cent for women to 23 per cent by the end of 2010 and ten per cent by 2032;

* They also want a campaign to raise awareness of cancer, stroke and mental health problems so they can be caught earlier;

* Cycle lanes should have double-yellow line status;

* Physical activity should be designed into the environment to encourage people to do more walking and cycling;

* Improvements to school playgrounds and the return of streets to communal use rather than thoroughfares;

* Increase the educational attainment of pupils, as better educated people lead healthier lives.

The plan, drawn up by the regional director of public health,

Dr Stephen Singleton, does not shy away from political lobbying on health issues.

It envisages pressing the Government for tax increases on alcohol and greater regulation of shops selling drink.

The publication coincides with an Audit Commission report, which found that while partnerships in the region are helping to improve health, more needs to be done to close the gap between the North-East and the rest of England.

Rates for sickness and disability are twice the national average, and the smoking mortality rates are among the highest in England.

Obesity, sexual health infection rates, alcohol and substance misuse are all worse than average.

But Dr Singleton believes his plan can turn those statistics on their head.

He said: "Why shouldn't the North-East be the healthiest region in the country in 25 years' time?

"We have suffered from poor health here for long enough."

He said the region already had the best stop-smoking services in England. Deaths from heart disease and stroke are also falling faster than the rest of the country.

He said: "Anything is possible if we show ambition. If we can work together on this, in 25 years, we will not only be the best place to live in the country but the place with the best health and wellbeing."

The draft strategy will be subject to a wide-ranging consultation leading to firm proposals early next year.

People can email comments to public health_ne@ dh.gsi.gov.uk or by post to Health and Wellbeing Strategy Consultation, Public Health North-East, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle, NE1 4WH.