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Population health and prevention

What we are doing

We’re collaborating across services and locations to improve health and reduce health inequalities which can vary significantly between communities in the North East and North Cumbria.

Our approach to this work is to increase public awareness on living healthy and well, developing screening to better prevent, detect and manage the biggest causes of premature death and continuing to reduce tobacco and alcohol consumption. We're also developing the workforce to make every contact count.

A board has been established for this workstream to maximise the benefits of working at scale across the region.

Our priorities

  • Reduce tobacco addiction and ensure a smoke-free NHS across the region by 2030.

  • Reduce alcohol related harm.

  • Support people in developing a sense of control and resilience in relation to their health and wellbeing.
  • Best start to life.

Reducing alcohol-related harm

Alcohol-related harm is estimated to cost the NHS in England £3.5 billion every year. Alcohol has been identified as a causal factor in more than 60 medical conditions, including several cancers, liver disease, heart disease and some mental health conditions .

Reducing alcohol-related harm has been identified as one of the priorities of the ICS Prevention Board. The ICS Alcohol Steering Group drives forward the alcohol priority workplan by identifying and facilitating opportunities for the ICS to work with partners to reduce the harms of alcohol.

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Spotlight

Smoking Dr Ruth

Don't wait

Dr Ruth Sharrock, a respiratory consultant from Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, is hoping to inspire thousands of people across the North East to stop this summer. Ruth is the face of the Don’t Wait campaign and is aiming to give new hope to smokers that they can quit and see a massive benefit in how they feel.

Smoking kills around 15 people a day in the North East but quitting can bring improvements to most people at any age.

Smoking weakens the immune system and causes heart disease, stroke, COPD and cancer. There are so many reasons to quit – for health, family and finances. 

For help and support

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Seven cancers

Alcohol is linked to at least seven types of cancer but you won’t find it on the label. That’s why we recommend sticking to the chief medical officer’s low risk levels of no more than 14 units per week.

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Who is involved

Senior Responsible Officers:
Dr Guy Pilkington, Newcastle Gateshead CCG
Professor Peter Kelly, Public Health England
Amanda Healy, Durham County Council

For general enquiries please email: Claire.mills21@nhs.net

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