PCT sets three-year health plan

Care of a growing population of elderly people is a priority

A three-year plan for healthcare is to be put to public scrutiny by Norfolk Primary Care Trust.

The trust is asking for discussion of its planning document Excellent Health, Outstanding Care, Best Value at a series of meetings across the county.

The document discusses the county's health condition and sets priorities.

Norfolk's population has a majority over the age of 44 and 155,000 over the age of 65. The older group is set to grow by 10,000 in the next three years.

The document shows that the county also has a growing immigrant community mainly from Portugal, the Baltic States and eastern Europe.

We want to ensure our objectives are focusing on the areas of greatest need Julie Garbutt

Many have special needs as few speak English, some have a higher incidence of mental health conditions, smoke more and have higher rates of heart disease than the rest of the population.

The document said that 80% of men over the age of 45 in parts of the county are overweight or obese and this calls for an education programme on lifestyle change.

Many people are being treated on a long term basis for diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

Teenage pregnancy

Heart attacks, strokes and cancer account for two-thirds of deaths and a great deal of ill health in the county.

Falls and broken hips are high on the list of causes of death and disability among people over the age of 75.

In addition, 1,500 people die every year from smoking-related illnesses.

There is also a need to reduce teenage pregnancy and improve sexual health generally.

All these call for priority action, the PCT management believes.

Trust chief executive Julie Garbutt said: "We want to ensure our objectives are focusing on the areas of greatest need.

"Members of the public, along with our key stakeholders, are being asked to tell the PCT if our suggested priorities are the most relevant, or suggest areas that they think should be a priority," she said.

"At this stage we are asking if we have our priorities right; the second phase will be to publicly consult as to how we can best achieve them."