Health and well-being
Our assessments show mixed progress being made by healthcare services in preventing illness and improving public health. Particularly for purchasing and delivery of services by primary care trusts.
Healthcare services have contributed to some dramatic improvements in the health of people in England and Wales over the last 20 years. However there is a difference of ten years between the life expectancy of men living in the most deprived areas in England and the population as a whole.
Premature death
Premature deaths from circulatory disease have fallen by over 40% since 1995. Early deaths from cancer have been cut by nearly 20%. Respiratory disease deaths fell by 29%.
Alcohol related illness and obesity
In England in 2005, 22% of men and 24% of women were obese.
Alcohol-related deaths in the UK almost doubled between 1991 and 2005 (from 6.9 to 12.9 per 100,000) and there has been a rise of more than 80% in the number of admissions to hospital for alcohol-related reasons in the last 10 years.
The role of primary care trusts
The primary care trusts' job is to make sure that NHS services are planned appropriately for local people. They are generally the main point of contact between patients and the health service.
Our work over the last year shows a particularly mixed picture for both the commissioning and delivery of services by Primary Care Trusts.
Recommendations
Primary care trusts need to work with their partners to gain a better understanding of the health needs of the populations they serve, in order to target preventative measures more effectively and purchase the healthcare services their populations need.
Download the chapter Working to improve health and well-being (PDF 287kb) (Opens new window)
