two recent government decisions seem to suggest a new intent to achieve these goals the national health council which was established legally over years ago but never put to work has been activated and an nhs portal wwwsnsgovpt has been launched it works at arm s length from the ministry to promote system transparency and accountability to society the new nhs portal provides detailed information about how nhs facilities function including waiting times for outpatient consultations emergency services and elective surgery the new nhs portal also provides a transparency area making a wide range of indicators on nhs access efficiency and quality available in real time however life expectancy at birth has increased by over four years since and is higher than the eu average mortality rates for the most common causes of death cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers have been decreasing but some unfavourable trends have emerged such as the increase in number of deaths caused by diabetes