Latest news with #NorthEastEssexIntegratedCareBoard
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Health checks could start at 30 in 'national first'
People living in a seaside town could be offered health checks from the age of 30 in a national first for the NHS, a senior doctor said. The free screening is usually offered to those aged 40 to 74, but that could be lowered in Clacton-on-Sea to tackle health inequalities. Dr Ed Garrett revealed the plan at a Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) meeting on Tuesday and said it was "progressing" forward. But an NHS spokesman said the idea was "very early stages". The health check aimed to detect if people were at higher risk of getting certain illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes and strokes. It involved screenings, including cholesterol and blood pressure tests. Dr Garrett said it would be a "national first" if the proposal went ahead. "Given life expectancy [in Clacton], we feel it's important that health checks are delivered earlier," he said. The seaside town has been the focus of concerted efforts by the NHS to stop deprivation leading to health inequalities. Chief Medical Officer Sir Chris Whitty visited in 2021, having authored the Coastal Communities report. In it, he said these towns suffered from high rates of serious illnesses and lower life expectancy among residents. Ian Davidson, chief of Tendring District Council, also said people living in some parts of Clacton had a life expectancy 18 years lower than in wealthier parts of Essex. When approached by the BBC to provide more details on its health checks plan, an ICB spokesman said it was still in its infancy. He added: "We'll share more details as soon as we are able." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Life expectancy gap of 18 years in parts of Essex Whitty: Deprived coastal towns need redesign Seaside poor health overlooked, warns Whitty Suffolk and North East Essex ICB
BBC News
11-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Mum warns of danger of constipation after son's death in Suffolk
A woman said she wanted to raise awareness of the danger of constipation after complications of the condition claimed the life of her Handley's 33-year-old son, Richard Handley, who had Down's syndrome, died at Ipswich Hospital in November 2012. He experienced a deterioration in his bowel health after moving into residential care home in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and about 10kg (22lb) of stools were removed from his body two days before his death. Ms Handley and health organisations in Suffolk and Essex have launched a new campaign designed to prevent similar deaths occurring in the future. "Richard suffered with constipation all his life, right from birth, but when he lived at home he learned to manage his constipation and keep him safe," she said."It was never a problem because I made sure his diet included lots of fruit vegetables and salad and he always had plenty to drink."But when he moved into residential care all that knowledge seemed to disappear, and when he was 33 he died as a result of very poor constipation care – it's a sad story." The four-week campaign will promote resources and information about diet, hydration, healthy digestion, tracking bowel habits, bowel screening and project is a collaborative effort between the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board, Ace Anglia and the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation have also joined forces with the Essex Learning Disability Partnership and Essex Carers Network in an effort to promote good bowel health. Preventable condition Twenty-four percent of people with a learning disability who died in Suffolk and north-east Essex between 2023 and 2024, had long-term constipation."Anybody and everybody can get constipation, but it is common in people with learning disabilities," said Ms Handley."It's only by raising awareness of constipation, what it is, how you get it, and how you stop it, that we're going to stop sad stories like Richard's from happening."Lisa Dexter, the NHS community service manager for Learning Disability Specialist Health Services in north-east Essex, agreed that constipation was "preventable"."Every death that is linked to constipation is a tragedy," she added."There are excellent resources out there that can equip carers and health professionals with the knowledge they need to prevent future deaths."During this campaign we are asking people to learn more about constipation so they can best support the people they care for." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
