About the Health Partnership

Much progress has been made in key areas - health in Knowsley is improving, life expectancy is increasing and death rates from major diseases such as cancer and heart disease are falling.

A 5-pronged approach has been developed to improve health in Knowsley:

Involving people
Making healthy choices easier
Improving the quality of health and social care
Making services more accessible
Addressing the underlying determinants of health (eg jobs, housing, transport, education, environment).

Knowsley Primary Care Trust is making substantial investment in modernising services and improving premises and facilities. In the short term, the greatest gains are being made through improved management of chronic diseases.

The Health Partnership is focusing its resources on prevention of illness and early detection of major causes of early death through two broad approaches:

Making healthy choices easier
Working with other Thematic Partnerships and their member agencies to tackle the causes of deprivation which can lead to ill health.

Progress During 2003/2004

We aimed to	Did we deliver?
Reduce the rate of deaths from heart disease in those aged under 65	Yes: Latest figures show a rate of 43.63 per 100,000 against a target reduction to 56.23
Reduce the rate of deaths from cancers in those aged under 75.	Yes: Latest figures show a rate of 167.21 per 100,000 against a target reduction to 174.02
Provide support to adults who want to stop smoking.	Yes: During 2003/2004 a total of 1,056 adults receiving support were still not smoking four weeks after their quit date
Reduce the number of children who smoke	Yes for boys, no for girls: The 2004 School Survey recorded 10% of Year 10 boys as smokers, compared to 12% in 1999. The 2004 figure for Year 10 girls was 25%, 24% compared to 20% in 1999. Figures for both boys and girls are now below national rates.
Reduce the conception rate for under-18s	Yes: Latest figures show a rate of 47.2 per 1,000 against a target reduction to 52.7

Key Developments

One of the biggest campaigns was the launch of Energise Knowsley - a campaign to prevent and treat obesity - a major cause of illness and death. The campaign aims to support residents to eat well, keep active and stay healthy, thereby improving their quality of life and lifespan. The `veggie van', introduced to sell fruit and vegetables in areas where there are no nearby shops, is having a desired impact on eating healthily. Development's to assist men's health have included health checks specifically for this group go out into the community, into pubs, clubs and the workplace, to raise awareness. There is now an officer to promote and help establish smoke-free workplaces, as well as support programmes for adults who wish to stop.