'This recession is killing us': Stoke-on-Trent could see return of major health problems, warns top doctor
THE recession is threatening to see the return of major health problems in Stoke-on-Trent after decades trying to improve the situation, the city's top doctor has warned.
He claims public spending cuts and benefit changes will widen health inequalities between the Potteries and better off parts of the country.
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WARNING: Professor Zafar Iqbal.
The warning comes from public health director Professor Zafar Iqbal, as the rate of major illnesses such as cancer and heart disease is falling among the 250,000 residents who are living longer than ever.
He says the gap between sickness levels locally and nationally is also narrowing.
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Now the expert has called on the city council and local NHS to try to identify those most at risk of failing health caused by the crisis – and then use 'preventative and mitigating programmes' to safeguard them.
Professor Iqbal said: "These are critical times with worrying changes, such as cuts in council services and welfare changes, which may affect public health.
"I am worried about groups or individuals falling through the net so it is important we pick them out and take mitigating action to make them more resilient and help them through.
"While Government policy argues that tackling welfare reform will oblige people to work, many observers expect the changes to compound the effects of the economic crisis.
"That will have significant impact on health through social determinants such as employment, income and housing.
"Health inequalities are expected to widen and adverse health effects are anticipated, such as increases in mental health problems and mortality from coronary heart disease."
His annual report showed that men in the city were now living on average to 76.2 years – more than four years older than just two decades ago. Male life expectancy is 2.4 years shorter than the national average compared to a gap of 3.2 years between 2003-5.
Potteries women are dying on average at 80.2 years – two years younger than nationwide norms. Between 1991 and 1993 female life expectancy was just over 77.
The latest figures for 2011 show there were 2,311 deaths with cancer remaining the main cause and being responsible for 732 fatalities .
Heart disease and strokes accounted for 581 and chest illness 371. Just over 60 per cent of people dying were aged 75 or over with 36.2 percent aged between 35 and 74.
Professor Iqbal said: "My report shows that despite the positive impact made by public health across Stoke-on-Trent, we still lag behind the English average for most health indicators.
"Although we are performing better than expected in several areas, overall health remains poor and we particularly need to focus our efforts on the major killers of coronary heart disease, cancer, and chronic lung disease."
Kath Banks, of the city council's adult and neighbourhoods scrutiny committee, said: "I never thought times would get so hard we would see food banks return to try to keep people healthy."
10 Comments
by HerrCutt
Monday, February 25 2013, 5:46PM
“Most of us are growing steadily poorer. Including those of us lucky enough to be working.
As a direct consequence of the rising energy and food costs too many people are cutting expenditure on these important items to the detriment of their well being. More and more of us are slipping into insolvency, poor mental and physical health and the worst aspect of all this is the weak and the vulnerable are likely to be hardest hit. regardless of foodbanks and other instances of "charity." There is no forseeable end to this state of affairs, in fact most people accept that the situation is going to get even worse.
Poor poor Stoke and its component towns....Makes me feel like crying....”
by mowcopman
Friday, February 22 2013, 9:40PM
“Too many layabouts wandering the streets drinking and smoking too much, both known for causing serious health problems. Somehow these people can still afford these things, very odd.”
by LongTallSarah
Friday, February 22 2013, 7:20PM
“@titanicrose. Get some proper benefits advice (from CAB, Disability Solutions or similar) and check whether your disability gives you entitlement to Disability Living Allowance. It's not a means-tested benefit, so your husband's income makes no difference to whether you get it or not.
Act soon, as DLA is due to be replaced by a new benefit, Personal Independence Payments, generally meaner and involving an Atos medical (ie if you have a pulse, you're fit for work).
Good luck.”
by Robstoke
Friday, February 22 2013, 5:21PM
“Titanic Rose you could sell your Computer mate”
by Robnoxious
Friday, February 22 2013, 1:37PM
“The biggest disease being the Labour Council. Should have a Public Health Warning attached to it.”
by titanicrose
Friday, February 22 2013, 12:52PM
“A lot of people have been taken off benefits because of NI contributions. So those who were previously on invalidity have been told that the Government predicts that a couple can manage on £120 p.w. I would like to see them try it, especially in the cold weather.
Organisations like Beat the Cold are available, but I am currently sitting in a house thats approx 11Centigrade because finances are stretched. I have rheumatoid arthritis and a circulatory problem, so I'm limited what I can do to help myself.
Neither my husband nor I smoke/drink or overeat so the expenditure doesn't go on that. What are people to do? I volunteer and my husband is in full-time work. Ironically thats the problem, if he wasn't working we wouldn't have this dilemma we've been told.
My husband always tries to cook nutritional meals but the price of fresh produce is expensive, so we have to make do.
Not only this City but this Country needs a review of what can be done to help.”
by BucknallMel
Friday, February 22 2013, 12:30PM
“Bobble, in times of recession people turn more to drink (and drugs) to ease their pain and stress; smoking also helps relieve stress. They also comfort eat, and junk food is cheaper than 'healthy' food. Constant calls to make junk food more expensive don't help, they should instead lower the price of decent food. Also, junk food is quicker than preparing your own meals and the increase in working hours and decrease in lunch break times is naturally having an effect. How about getting off the backs of the people struggling to cope with an increasingly bleak life and putting the boot in on the 1% who live in obscene luxury because they are making fortunes from low wages and high prices for the rest of us?”
by provident
Friday, February 22 2013, 12:11PM
“Expenses are increasing day by day.”
by bobble1956
Friday, February 22 2013, 10:31AM
“When did the recession force people to smoke, drink excessively and gorge on junk food, all of which contribute to high levels of morbidity and mortality in this area?”
by someonecares
Friday, February 22 2013, 9:23AM
“'This recession is killing us' your not chuffin kidding!!”