A snapshot at Newham’s health

The Health Protection Agency has published a new online snapshot of health at www.hpa.org.uk/healthprotectionprofiles.

It has revealed that people in the borough are less likely to suffer skin cancer although the borough’s population is most likely to have the highest rate of tuberculosis.

These facts are among a list published online by the Health Protection Agency which shows a mixed picture for the borough.

Newham had the lowest rate of malignant melanoma (skin cancer) in all ages and in the under-75s in the country in 2004/06. The agency believes this may be a reflection of the local population which may have a low percentage of people in the at risk groups such as those with fair skin.

The borough also had the highest rate of tuberculosis diagnoses in the country fro 2004/06. The HPA believes this too may be due to the make-up of the local population which may contain a high percentage of people in the at risk groups, such as people who have recently emigrated from countries with high rates of TB.

The agency looked at total of 19 categories or indicators and concluded that Newham has among the lowest areas for the uptake of the pneumococcal vaccine in people aged 65 or over. The borough had the third highest uptake of the seasonal flu vaccine in at risk groups in the country in 2008/09 and the third highest rate of hospital admissions due to asthma in the country in 2007.

Newham also had the eighth highest rate of of people living with HIV in 2007.

Dr Brian McCloskey, director of the HPA in London, said: “This type of health information is critically important, but often in the past it’s not been easy for the public to find, understand and compare local areas. These new profiles signal a change in how we present this information, giving people an opportunity to become more aware of health issues in their local area, to better understand their context and know where to go to find out more.

“As well as being a tool for the public, the profiles are also designed to support local agencies, such as the NHS and local councils, to identify priority areas for the commissioning of services and action to improve health.”