§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the progress made by Shropshire Health Authority on the Government's priority health targets of cancer, coronary heart disease, mental health and accidents. [105529]
§ Yvette CooperShropshire Health Authority is making good progress in relation to these four priority areas. The local trend in premature mortality from all cancers has been declining over the past decade. Data for September 19991 show that all referrals for breast cancer are being seen within the standard two weeks at both the Royal Shrewsbury Hospitals National Health Service Trust and the Princess Royal Hospital NHS Trust.
The health authority is well on course to meet its target to reduce the death rate from coronary heart disease and stroke in people under 75 by at least 40 per cent. by 2010. The health authority is hopeful that it will meet the target in 2006.
The mental health target is to reduce the death rate from suicide and undetermined injury by at least 20 per cent. by 2010. Shropshire has one of the lowest rates of suicide in the West Midlands and there is a downward trend in the figures.
Shropshire has identified a need to focus on preventing serious and fatal casualties from road traffic accidents. Particular attention is being placed on the 15–24 years age group and the health authority is planning several actions to take this forward.
Source:
1 Quarterly Monitoring Cancer Waiting (QMCW) 1999–2000 Q2