Press release
Director of Public Health calls for measures to improve quality of life
Bury’s Director of Public Health, in his latest annual report says the health service should not just be saving lives but working closely with local agencies to improve the quality of life for local people.
The report outlines five key factors that directly impact on people’s quality of life. They are mental health, sensory impairment, pain, sexually transmitted diseases and end of life care.
Dr. Peter Elton, Director of Public Health for NHS Bury said: “During 2008, partners in Bury worked as a team to improve local health; from the introduction of HPV vaccines in schools for the prevention of cervical cancer, to promoting grants for home insulation which will reduce the number of deaths associated with cold weather in the winter. As we continually strive to make further improvements, the findings of the 2007 Bury Health Survey will inform the way in which we concentrate our efforts to meet the greatest needs.”
For each of the five key themes, Dr. Elton explains how Bury is tailoring services available to local people with the aim of adding years to life and life to years.
Key messages in the report include:
- Mental health
In Bury one in five adults has some degree of depression or anxiety and many people have milder, undiagnosed mental health problems. Bury has commissioned the ‘Oh What a Relief’ website www.ohwhatareliefbury.nhs.uk; an online support and information tool focusing on common mental health problems including tips to overcome anxiety, cope with stress and beat sleep-related problems.
The report calls upon employers to give staff more control over how they do their jobs. People who have little job control are almost twice as likely to be depressed as other workers. Dr. Elton said: “When people feel that the way they do their job is best, they are likely to be more efficient as well as being mentally healthier.”
- Sensory impairment
In 2009 local services intend to build on the recent switch to more sophisticated hearing aids to reach the 90% of Bury residents with a hearing impairment who either do not have a hearing aid, or only occasionally wear one.
Also highlighted are the threats posed to the hearing of younger people who listen to continuously loud music for long periods of time on portable music players. This level of noise, which is often louder than a chain saw, can ultimately lead to deafness at an increasingly young age.
The link between smoking and blindness is also considered in the report. By giving up smoking, people not only reduce the risk of dying from smoking related diseases but also reduce their chances of becoming visually impaired.
- Pain
Currently around one in ten Bury residents suffer from severe pain, most commonly in the bones and joints. Being overweight places extra stress on bones and joints which can be a contributing factor to the cause of pain. Unfortunately about half of adults in Bury are overweight, so the NHS and the Local Authority have introduced new initiatives to encourage local people to eat healthier and help them lose weight. Bury is also looking to reduce pain by using acupuncture to compliment other existing services and treatments.
- Sexually transmitted diseases
Tackling sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has been identified as a priority area. Extensive work to offer chlamydia screening to all 15 – 24 year olds in the borough gathered momentum during 2008 and will continue into 2009. This initiative forms part of a three year sexual health strategy to tackle STDs, promote the use of contraception and reduce teenage pregnancy rates in Bury. Through working with agencies such as Manchester Action on Street Health (MASH) to encourage healthy living and lifestyle changes, NHS Bury continues to support initiatives to help reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
- End of life care
The care of those who are close to the end of their lives is a key priority for Bury over the coming year. An audit called ‘Essence of Care’ is currently being carried out in local hospitals and within community services, to measure many of the aspects associated with terminal illnesses. The aim is to provide services that meet patient needs and respect their final wishes.
- Results of 2007 Bury Health Survey
The report also publishes the findings of the 2007 Bury Health Survey. The results offer an insight into the health of Bury residents and also a comparison with previous years. A key finding is a steady drop in the number of smokers in Bury. The findings suggest that the number of smokers over the age of 18 was 20.8% in 2007, compared to 22.3% in 2005 and 27.9% in 2002. This encouraging decline reflects the work done by Bury to reduce the temptation for children to start smoking and help smokers to become smoke free.
ENDS
Date: 17th February 2009
For further information please contact Communications, NHS Bury on 0161 762 3130 or email communications@bury.nhs.uk
Notes to editor:
For copies of the NHS Bury Public Health Annual Report 2008 please contact the Public Health Department on 0161 272 4062 or log on to the NHS Bury website www.bury.nhs.uk