UK health 'time bomb' threatens over-burdened local NHS resources
First HealthACORN report reveals impending strain on local heath care from consumer lifestyles
At a time when many people are making resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle, data from the first ever HealthACORN report by CACI and TNS reveals shocking evidence of the impact that current lifestyle choices will have on future local health resources. Poor diet and exercise levels are putting health authorities across the UK under increasing pressure, with those in Wales struggling most (see appendix for top 10 areas at greatest risk).
Analysis shows that in certain areas levels of smoking are double the national average, there are more overweight people and the consumption of crisps and sugar-based drinks are high, while intake of fruit and vegetables are well below required levels.
The results highlight which communities urgently need to make 2007 health resolutions to prevent already struggling health resources potentially collapsing in the future.
HealthACORN looks at the mix of people within a neighbourhood and identifies four broad kinds of area:
1. High levels of serious illness and poor diet and consumption patterns
2. High levels of severely unhealthy lifestyles likely to lead to serious illness
3. Generally healthy but with some potentially unhealthy lifestyle traits
4. Good health with few lifestyle issues
The findings of the report will make for particularly disturbing reading for policy makers, health administrators and local government. Top line findings from the HealthACORN report include:
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Easington, Bolsover and the Welsh valleys have particularly high concentrations of neighbourhoods already placing huge demands on the NHS with high levels of serious illness |
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Inner London, Nottingham and Hull are home to many residents with unhealthy lifestyles that, without significant changes, are likely to lead to health problems and strains on local health resources |
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Wokingham, Hart and Surrey Heath are places where the general good health of residents still requires fine-tuning on some lifestyle traits |
Commenting on the findings, Ian Thurman, Head of Location Analysis at CACI, said:
“The serious illnesses focused on within the HealthACORN report are, to a large extent, caused by lifestyle choices. The NHS is already overburdened, but this is nothing compared to the time bomb which is set to explode if people don’t make major changes to their current lifestyles.
“This analysis goes beyond simple measurement of existing health patterns and identifies where early intervention can be most effective in reducing future illnesses. This means health care and support can be developed for small communities where ill-health prevention activities can be accurately targeted.”
HealthACORN has been produced using a unique combination of official data and commercial information from lifestyle surveys, market research and Census data.
For more information on HealthACORN and the Health of the Nation report showing the results for individual local authorities please visit the HealthACORN page.
Ranking of Local Authorities
The following tables list the ten local authorities with the highest occurrence of each of the four categories:
| Group 1 - High levels of serious illness and poor diet and consumption patterns | |
| Rank |
Local Authority |
| 1 |
Merthyr Tydfil |
| 2 | Easington |
| 3 | Rhondda, Cynon, Taff |
| 4 | Neath Port Talbot |
| 5 | Blaenau Gwent |
| 6 | Caerphilly |
| 7 | Bolsover |
| 8 | Torfaen |
| 9 | Bridgend |
| 10 | Carmarthenshire |
| Group 2 - High levels of severely unhealthy lifestyles likely to lead to serious illness | |
| Rank |
Local Authority |
| 1 |
Tower Hamlets |
| 2 | Hackney |
| 3 | Southwark |
| 4 | Lambeth |
| 5 | Nottingham |
| 6 | Newham |
| 7 | Islington |
| 8 | Kingston upon Hull, City of |
| 9 | Corby |
| 10 | Manchester |
| Group 3 - Generally healthy but with some potentially unhealthy lifestyle traits | |
| Rank |
Local Authority |
| 1 |
Wokingham |
| 2 | Chiltern |
| 3 | Mole Valley |
| 4 | Hart |
| 5 | Surrey Heath |
| 6 | Elmbridge |
| 7 | East Renfrewshire |
| 8 | St Albans |
| 9 | South Bucks |
| 10 | East Dunbartonshire |
| Group 4 - Good health with few lifestyle issues | |
| Rank |
Local Authority |
| 1 |
Isles of Scilly |
| 2 | Eden |
| 3 | Orkney Islands |
| 4 | City of London |
| 5 | Ealing |
| 6 | Mid Suffolk |
| 7 | Hammersmith and Fulham |
| 8 | Ryedale |
| 9 | Wandsworth |
| 10 | East Cambridgeshire |
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More about HealthACORN |