§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the original baseline for, and the most recent achievement against, the targets set in Health of the Nation for(a) England and (b) Newcastle and North Tyneside. [24802]
§ Ms Jowell[holding answer 27 January 1998]: The Health of the Nation targets were set as national targets. Specific local targets were not set. This was a weakness in view of the degree of variation from the national average between different local health authorities. It is part of the regional office public health role to monitor the performance of health authorities against the Health of the Nation targets, and they hold detailed information trends for the health authorities in their area.
Baseline and monitoring data are available centrally for 24 of the 27 Health of the Nation targets at a national level, and for 13 of the targets at local level (11 mortality
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Health of the Nation: baselines and latest data for England and Newcastle and North Tyneside HA Health of the Nation targets Rates per 100,000 population (European age standardised) Target area People aged Measure target reduction (per cent.) By year England Newcastle and North Tyneside HA Year Baseline Latest Percentage change Baseline Latest Percentage change Baseline Latest A1 CHD under 65 death rate 40 2000 57.6 43.5 -24 75.7 54.1 -29 1989–91 1994–96 A2 CHD 65–74 death rate 30 2000 883.2 730.0 -17 1,041.7 867.8 -17 1989–91 1994–96 A3 stroke under 65 death rate 40 2000 11.8 10.6 -10 14.4 10.7 -26 1989–91 1994–96 A4 stroke 65–74 death rate 40 2000 248.6 207.5 -17 312.4 252.8 -19 1989–91 1994–96 B1 breast cancer women 50–69 death rate 25 2000 93.5 81.3 -13 96.8 83.6 -14 1989–91 1994–96 B2 cervical cancer all ages incidence 20 2000 15.8 14.2 -10 14.5 17.5 21 1985–87 1989–91 B3 skin cancer (melanoma) all ages incidence halt inc. 2005 6.2 6.9 11 6.0 3.9 -36 1985–87 1989–91 B4 lung cancer men under 75 death rate 30 2010 58.8 48.8 -17 91.8 78.0 -15 1989–91 1994–96 B5 lung cancer women under 75 death rate 15 2010 23.6 22.9 -3 46.9 42.5 -9 1989–91 1994–96 C2 suicide and undetermined all ages death rate 15 2000 10.2 9.2 -10 12.0 11.4 -5 1989–91 1994–96 targets and two cancer incidence targets). The available data for those 13 targets, extracted from the Public Health Common Data Set (copies of which are available in the Library), are shown in the table.
It should be noted that the cancer incidence information presented here is several years out of date due to delays in the cancer registration process.
A summary of progress for the remaining national targets for which an assessment can be made, is given.
Gonorrhoea incidence—a proxy measure for trends in HIV infection—the target was achieved in 1992 ahead of the 1995 target date. However, rates have started to rise again in 1996.Smoking in pregnancy—the percentage of women giving up has reached the target of 33 per cent. in 1995.The prevalence of smoking in adults has fallen between 1990 and 1996, from 31 per cent. to 28 per cent. for men and from 28 per cent. to 27 per cent. for women. The rate for women fluctuated during this period.Conceptions among under 16 year olds fell by 14 per cent. between 1989–90–91 and 1993–94–95, although there was a slight rise (3 per cent.) in each of the last two years.Mean systolic blood pressure among adults fell by 2mm Hg between 1991–92 and 1996—the target reduction is 5mm Hg by 2005.The percentages of food energy derived from total fat and saturated fatty acids have continued a slow but steady fall.Targets where progress has not been achieved:
Obesity has been increasing since the mid 1980s, and 1996 figures show the percentage of 16–64 year olds classified as obese are 16 per cent. of men and 17 per cent. of women.Smoking prevalence among 11–15 year olds increased to 12 per cent. in 1994, thus missing the 1994 target, and rose again to 13 per cent. in 1996.Drinking prevalence—there has been an increase in the percentage of women drinking above the previously recommended "sensible" weekly levels, but as yet, no clear trend among men.The remaining target, on skin cancer incidence, is under review.
We shall very shortly be publishing the Green Paper on our new health strategy for England, Our Healthier Nation. The Green Paper will propose a small number of new national targets and will also set out our thinking on the possibilities for introducing local targets. 433W
Health of the Nation: baselines and latest data for England and Newcastle and North Tyneside HA Health of the Nation targets Rates per 100,000 population (European age standardised) Target area People aged Measure target reduction (per cent.) By year England Newcastle and North Tyneside HA Year Baseline Latest Percentage change Baseline Latest Percentage change Baseline Latest E1 accidents under 15 death rate 33 2005 6.7 4.4 -34 10.2 5.9 -42 1989–91 1994–96 E2 accidents 15–24 death rate 25 2005 23.1 17.3 -25 12.1 9.9 -18 1989–91 1994–96 E3 accidents 65 and over death rate 33 2005 56.6 52.8 -7 61.7 65.8 7 1989–91 1994–96 Source:
Public Health Common Data Sets 1996 and 1997 (from ONS mortality statistics and cancer registrations).