‘SIGNIFICANT’ improvements have been made to the health of Warwickshire residents in the past year, but vulnerable people do not fare so well.
A health and wellbeing report by Warwickshire County Council’s public health department shows an improvement in many areas.
These include a three per cent drop in teenage pregnancy rates from figures recorded in 2014 and also show one in four adults are now classed as physically inactive, compared to one in three.
And while there is good news that life expectancy has risen by around half a year, the number of years spent in poor health has also risen – to around 12 years for men and 16 for women.
Hospital admissions for children with injuries are higher than the national average.
The number of young people admitted to hospital after self-harming is also much higher than the England average, with some 510 people in 100,000 in Warwickshire compared to the average of 430.
Director of public health Dr John Linnane said: “I am concerned that, while the health and wellbeing of the Warwickshire population in general has seen significant improvements over recent years, the health and wellbeing of vulnerable groups continues to lag behind.
“We want everyone in Warwickshire to experience good health and wellbeing. To make this a reality we need to focus attention on those who are at greatest risk of harm and enable them to achieve their aspirations.”
And council spokesman for health coun Les Caborn claims improved healthcare would save money in the long-run.
He said: “We must strive continuously to ensure that those in the greatest need have access to the personalised support and services they need, to enable them to live fulfilling independent lives.
“This will improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable people and also makes good financial sense for public services . If we can prevent vulnerability or intervene earlier to reduce its impact, we can save money in the longer-term and improve health outcomes.”
Visit warwickshire.gov.uk/publichealthannualreport to read the full report.
