12:56pm Thursday 9th August 2007
By David Watkinson
PEOPLE in East Lancashire are dying early because of their poor health.
Problems associated with eating badly, smoking, drinking alcohol mean that life expectancy in parts of the region is up to eight years lower than other parts of the country.
Now new figures reveal another major problem - lack of exercise.
MORE than half of the adults in East Lancashire are doing no regular physical exercise at all.
The health figures have been described as "shocking" by one expert who said that something urgently needs to be done to improve the life-span of residents.
In Blackburn with Darwen, figures have revealed that the area is in the bottom three per cent in the UK for exercise levels, and in the North West it is even worse that Manchester and Liverpool.
In Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle the figures are not much better.
Dr Ellis Friedman, public health director for East Lancashire Primary Care Trust (PCT), said the problem of poor health in East Lancashire was historical and that a lot of work was being done to improve the lives of residents.
He said: "There is the culture of drinking, smoking and poor diet in this area that contributes to cause the problems.
"In addition children do not take exercise as much as they did 20 or 30 years ago - fewer children walk to school and more play computer games than play out in the street."
The PCT is trying to raise awareness of healthier eating through the national five-a-day fruit campaign, school programmes and schemes with local councils and community groups.
Mike Lead, director of public health in Blackburn and Darwen, said: "There is now a national drive to address the problem of obesity and we need to capitalise on that at a local level and encourage more people to be more active.
"It is not just obesity but other health issues including lung disease and heart disease."
Now a special scheme called "Start living better. Start living longer" has been launched by Blackburn with Darwen Council.
The programme initially aims to raise public awareness of the area's poor health, and explore what needs to be done.
Judith Holbrey, Blackburn with Darwen Primary Care Trust chief executive, said: "Some of our local health statistics are shocking and we are committed to working to make a difference.
"There are some things we can do but we need support."
Graham Burgess, the borough council's chief executive, said: "It is a shock that people in Blackburn and Darwen can live for eight years less than other parts of the country.
"The only way we can tackle such entrenched problems is by working together - having good GPs, health centres and clinics, good leisure centres, attracting better jobs and improving education."
Wide-ranging consultations will now begin with communities across Blackburn and Darwen in a bid to reverse years of neglect.
In other parts of the region work is also taking place to reverse the trend for poor health.
Last year five of East Lancashire's six borough's were named among 88 priority "spearhead" areas and told by the Department of Health to boost life expectancy.
When the scheme was announced, health figures showed that there was a widening gap between "spearhead" areas and the rest of the country.
Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and Rossendale were included in the plan.
Areas were told that male life expectancy must rise to 78.6 years but in East Lancashire that figure remains at 74.1,.
For women the target is 82.5 years but the average in the area is well below that at 78 years.
In Pendle health bosses have pledged to do all they can to tackle infant mortality rates - linked to obesity in mothers - after figures revealed the borough had the highest levels of child deaths in the country.
Over the last three years there have been an average of 12 infant deaths per year in the borough, compared to a national average of just over five.
The borough also compares badly to other East Lancashire areas, where the totals for 2003-2005 were 42 for Blackburn, 25 for Burnley, 26 in Hyndburn and just eight in the Ribble Valley and Rossendale.
The high figures are being blamed on too many premature births, teenage mums, obesity in mothers and smoking during pregnancy.
Last year Blackburn and Darwen health bosses announced they were going to spent £470,000 on drugs that stop obese people feeling hungry.
A survey of Lancashire children's fizzy pop consumption revealed that children in Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley drink eight cans a week, with youngsters in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale slightly less.
That's higher than the national average and compares to just four cans of pop a week in Chorley and South Ribble.
In Burnley the local health authority has drawn up an action plan to tackle premature deaths.
The shocking findings of a Burnley health survey have prompted councillors to draw up an action plan.
Just 17 per cent of adults eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day, less than the regional and national average and the lowest figure for neighbouring authorities.
There are significantly more deaths from cancer, smoking, heart disease and stroke; higher numbers of drug users and more binge drinkers.
Councillors are now set to try and tackle some of the problems with the £100,000 action plan.
Heather Grimbaldeston acting public health director for the PCT, said Burnley's traditional industry had played a major role in the borough's poor health.
She added: "Burnley has improved but at a slower rate while some areas in the country are improving a lot faster."
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