We're Winning Against Heart Disease

25/08/2004

Coronary heart disease is significantly lower in the Cotswolds than the England average, according to a recent report.

The Healthcare Commission report has revealed that significantly fewer people within the Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust region suffer from heart disease.

Only 23 per 100,000 under 65s in the area have coronary heart disease, compared with the England average of 33 per 100,000 people. In the 65-74 age group, 454 per 100,000 people are affected, compared with the England average of 541 per 100,000.

"Heart disease and other diseases with similar causes, such as stroke, can only be prevented and treated by everyone working together to tackle their causes - something we in Cotswold and Vale are committed to, and are trying to achieve," said GP Charles Buckley.

The report praises the Trust for excellent partnership working with other local health trusts and with the University of Gloucestershire, which has worked with the county trusts to produce training for staff working with heart disease patients.

Cotswold and Vale was also commended for its strategies to promote healthy lifestyles, including healthy eating, physical activity and smoking cessation.

"We have done particularly well in supporting people locally who want to give up smoking, which is a major cause of heart disease," said Dr Buckley. "All but one of our GP practices now have a Support to Stop adviser in place, and we have also trained a number of our local pharmacists and counter assistants.

"As a result of this, over 800 people in the last year have taken up the challenge to quit smoking within four weeks."

The report measures health trusts against targets in the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease.

Cotswold and Vale PCT has introduced a Coronary Heart Disease register in each of its GP practices, in line with national targets. And, with its partners countywide, it has introduced the Gloucestershire Primary Care Heart Failure Service, which provides open access to diagnosis and referral to specialist heart failure nurses.

"Thankfully, much can, and is, being done by local doctors and nurses, hospitals, local authorities, schools, voluntary organisations and others to help free local people and their families from these devastating illnesses. We have much local success to celebrate but also lots more still to do."