GP's NHS report reveals future Fylde coast health needs

10:05am Thursday 3rd July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A report into the future of the National Health Service could help increase life expectancy on the Fylde coast, according to a local GP.

The report emphasised that more needed to be done to prevent ill health, and Dr Amanda Doyle, a GP based in Blackpool, agreed that something “radically different” needed to be done to stop people in poorer communities dying early.

The wide-ranging NHS review was carried out by Health Minister and surgeon Lord Darzi, as part of the NHS’s 60th birthday celebrations.

Dr Doyle, the chairman of the Professional Executive Committee at Blackpool Primary Care Trust, said: “The recommendations from this report place a bigger emphasis on preventing people from becoming ill, and that is something that is important locally.

"It is clear that something radically different needs to be done to stop people who live in our poorest communities dying early when they reach their 50s.

“One of the biggest challenges facing healthcare on the Fylde coast is the health of people in deprived communities, who suffer from illnesses related to smoking and alcohol, and in Blackpool we have increased funding to try to target these people, and improve their long-term health.

“We also have to try and raise the awareness of people who are at risk of suffering from heart conditions, who do not know that services such as free blood and cholesterol tests are available to them.

“This is a major health concern in these areas, especially for people who may be at high risk due to a family history of health conditions, but people aren’t aware of the dangers they are putting on themselves.”

The review was published following a 12-month consultation with more than 60,000 patients and staff. Dr Doyle led a North West group of clinicians looking at how to improve planned care services.

“This review is important because it has taken on the views of patients and staff,” she added.

“It will give patients much more freedom to chose the health care they want, from being free to change doctors to choosing which hospital they want to go into.

“I am sure local patients will notice a difference in the health care they receive, and under the new recommendations they will be given a much greater chance to share their experiences, both good and bad, of the NHS.”