Health and quality of life have become important drivers for individuals when they are deciding where to live and work, as such, it is important that the North East publicises the areas in which it performs well and attempts to correct the areas where performance is poor.

As consumers become more focussed on ‘experiences’ there is pressure on UK regions to demonstrate that their population enjoys the best possible health and well-being. One of the ways this is done by demonstrating good health and the availability of physical recreation areas. Unfortunately, historical data shows that the North East performs poorly in these areas; the rate of people engaging in physical activity is one of the lowest in the UK and 4% below the national average and life expectancy is also amongst the lowest in the country.

Other emerging trends are also beginning to create increased strain on the region’s healthcare system. Obesity is growing at an exponential rate and although this is not an issue limited to the North East (the number of obese people worldwide has increased threefold in the past 20 years), local policy makers must consider it an issue of primary importance, 18.2% of North East children aged 2-10 years old are classified as ‘very overweight’. Every year the NHS in the UK spends approximately £500m treating obesity, it is estimated that the problem could be costing the economy £3.5bn by 2010.

The North East also performs poorly in many health related areas, the region spends more on alcohol (per head) than any other UK area, it also has one of the highest smoking rates, highest rates of death from cancer and coronary heart disease and the highest rates of teenage pregnancy. On a positive note, the resources allocated to healthcare in the region appear to be improving he situation, particularly in preventative care. The region has the highest rate of child immunisation (MMR) in the UK, performs above the English average for immunisation of older people against Influenza and has the highest coverage rates for Cervical Screening Programmes.

For the sake of its population and the future economic development of the region, policy makers must continue the good work which has been started, in an attempt to improve performance in the various areas highlighted above.

Fact File

• Globally 300m people are obese and 750m are overweight.
• 22m of the worlds children under 5 are overweight or obese.
• Alcohol misuse costs the NHS £1.7bn per year.
• The national rate of deaths from cancer is around 120 per 100,000 of the population.
• The average life expectancy at birth in the UK is 81 years old for females and 76 for males.
• Life expectancy at birth in the NE is 79 for females and 74.5 for males, these rates are both below the national average, but the gap between the UK rate and the NE rate has narrowed over the past decade.
• Immunisation rates for children are also above the national average in the region. 83.5% of NE children had received the MMR jab compared to the 79.9% UK average.
• The NE rate of deaths from cancer is 13% higher than the national rate (137 per 100,000 of the population).
• The NE has the highest conception rate amongst teenage females. The gap between the NE and the UK has increased despite a government programme of education in an attempt to reduce rates.
• The current rate of Coronary Heart Disease is 26% above national average.