An ‘ambitious’ plan to transform North Cumbria’s health was considered by NHS leaders yesterday (October 1).

The Clinical Conditions Strategic Plan targets 12 health conditions making the biggest impact on people and challenges the NHS to do more to prevent ill health.

Neil O'Brien, chief medical officer at Northeast and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) serving our area, said: "For too long, people in our region have lived with worse health than the rest of England.

“We have shorter lives, more long-term conditions and higher rates of heart disease and lung cancer.

"One in five of us has anxiety or depression.

"This needs to change.

“We have studied the data in detail, and it's clear which conditions are affecting people the most.

“So we will focus our work where we can have the greatest impact.

"We have fantastic health services, but that's not enough.”

Dr O’Brien said more preventative work, such as help to stop smoking and more early cancer checks, can help people stay well.

"20,000 people attend A&E with back pain every year.

“We need to offer them better treatments and make it easier to see a physio or occupational therapist,” he said.

Increasing access to services close to home, such as crisis cafes, safe havens, and community support networks, can better support mental health in the region, he added.

"Our health is also affected by wider factors like housing, poverty and crime in our communities.

“We will work with councils and other services to help address these issues where we can."

Top priorities for adults include cardiovascular (heart) and respiratory (breathing) health, as well as lung cancer, lower back pain, anxiety and depression.

For children, the focus is on diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, obesity, oral health, anxiety and mental health, autism and learning disabilities.

With high rates of childhood obesity, NHS leaders plan to develop new services including help with diet and psychological support.

The NHS will also expand mental health support teams in schools, and regular health checks for young people with autism or learning disabilities. 

Catherine Monaghan, medical director at the ICB and a consultant in respiratory medicine at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Our lung cancer rates are above the national average – and in deprived areas, they're even higher.

"We have set a demanding target to reduce the number of people smoking from 13 per cent to five per cent by 2030 and do more lung health checks so that cancers are spotted at a more treatable stage.

“We know it can be harder for people in deprived areas to use these services, so we will work to ensure fairer access to diagnosis and treatment."

The plan, which runs from 2025 to 2030, is available to read on the ICB's website.