Shropshire rates above average in tackling unavoidable deaths
Shropshire rated above average in tackling unavoidable deaths according to data released this week on a new website launched by Public Health England (PHE).
The new ‘Longer Lives’ website launched on Tuesday 11 June aims to drive public awareness and local action to tackle public health problems. The website allows people to easily see local information for the West Midlands on early deaths from major killers like heart disease, stroke and cancer, and how it varies across the area and the country.
The website contains a range of data that, for the first time, allows people to easily compare an area’s mortality against those with similar populations, incomes and levels of health.
Using a traffic-light rating system, it ranks areas showing those above average in tackling avoidable deaths as green, while those that still have more to do, are red.
Shropshire Council rated above average in tackling avoidable deaths ranking 36 out of 150 councils across England in overall premature deaths. Along with Solihull Council the authority has the lowest rates of heart disease and stroke related deaths in the West Midlands, ranking at 25th and 28th respectively – well below the national average.
Shropshire ranked 51 out of 150 of cancer related deaths, 29 out of 149 local authorities of lung disease related deaths and 39 out of 149 councils for liver disease related deaths.
The data and website will provide local areas with information to help local authorities understand their own position and better target efforts to improve the health of the people they serve.
Councillor Karen Calder, Cabinet Member for Health at Shropshire Council said;
“We welcome the Public Health’s England national Longer Lives campaign and whilst the outcomes for Shropshire are good, we are absolutely committed to overcoming health inequalities in our county. Shropshire council as part of its new public health responsibilities is very keen to promote health and Wellbeing and to encourage individuals, families and communities to work with us and Shropshire’s Clinical Commissioning Group to reduce the occurrence of long term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity to enable local people to live healthier for longer.”
Prof Rod Thomson, Director for Public Health at Shropshire Council added;
“We are pleased with the work we have been doing with communities over recent years which has meant that life expectancy in Shropshire is amongst the highest in the country.”
“Saying that, we are very keen to improve our position even further, particularly in relation to the prevention of cancer related deaths. Shropshire’s Health and Well-being Board will continue to promote healthy lifestyles as a key theme for individuals, communities and families.”
Dr Caron Morton, Accountable Officer at Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, added;
“We’re pleased to receive such a positive rating for the work we are doing to tackle these issues. We will continue to work with our partners to improve the health of our local communities and retain our position as one of the best in the region.”
The website provides examples of best practice from other local authorities, guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and links to NHS Choices so that individuals, families and citizens can learn about these conditions and what they can to do to improve their health.
This data is the first information to be rolled out as part of the Government’s plans to provide the public and health professionals in local areas with clear, easy accessible information on how health and care services are doing in improving health outcomes wherever we live.
You can view the data by visiting http://longerlives.phe.org.uk
Anyone in Shropshire who would like information and advice on living a healthy lifestyle can visit www.healthyshropshire.co.uk or call the Healthy Shropshire helpline on 0345 678 9025. This number has been set up to provide a single point for people to go to for support with improving their health. Advisers can help people looking to find out more about how they can be healthier, and prevent themselves or others from getting ill.
