Health chiefs say they can show that “real progress” is being made in Telford & Wrekin to improve the lives of borough residents.

Life expectancy for both men and women is increasing and there were fewer premature deaths last year compared to 2008.

In an introduction to the draft annual report of NHS Telford and Wrekin, chairman Brian Taylor and chief executive Simon Conolly, point to a number of other successes.

They say the trust is committed to making “significant improvements” to the health of the local population, and also to the experience of individual patients when they use services.

A number of measures show a reduction in the difference in health status between the richest and poorest people in the borough.

Telford & Wrekin has achieved a 20 per cent reduction in the rate of teenage pregnancies since 1998.

Obesity

The number of people admitted to hospital with conditions related to alcohol was reduced by five per cent between 2007/08 and 2008/09 and figures continued to fall during last year.

Breast feeding rates have shown a four per cent rise and continue to improve.

There have been reductions in prevalence of child obesity in both reception year and Year Six at school and for smoking cessation the borough has one of the highest quit rates in the West Midlands.

Premature deaths due cardio vascular disease fell by eight per cent between 2008 and 2009 and the “vast majority” of patients wait for no more than 18 weeks for an operation from the point their GP refers them .

Today Telford & Wrekin has the highest rate of patient access to NHS dentistry for children in the West Midlands, and the third highest for adults.

Two new GP walk-in services have been opened – one in Telford Town Centre and the other next to the Princess Royal Hospital.

Mr Taylor and Mr Conolly say much of the success has been achieved in partnership with GPs, Telford & Wrekin Council and the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, and with other partners inside and outside the NHS.

By Health Correspondent Dave Morris