Welcome to our eight-page special supplement dedicated to the health of the Borough’s children and young people.
It reports on the challenge the borough faces, and the very real problems with young people’s health which must be tackled. If it seems as if we’re just talking at you, then we apologise! We just want to help our youngsters grow up happy and healthy.
In the future we will be asking you for your personal stories and experiences that may inspire, strengthen resolve or give support to all of us hoping for a great and healthy future for our kids.
Health and social care experts in the borough have warned of a ticking timebomb waiting to explode with health problems if young people do not change their lifestyles.
Unhealthy eating, binge drinking and casual sexual encounters – which are so familiar to many young people – have been highlighted as a recipe for disaster.
Dr Kate Ardern, Director of Public Health for the borough, said: “We are on course for a major health catastrophe if we don’t start making changes to our lifestyle now – today’s children risk being the first generation for 150 years not to live as long as their parents.”
She said NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan and the Council were working with young people and families to help them understand the risks of leading an unhealthy lifestyle, and make the changes they need to develop healthy habits for life. More time and money than ever before is being invested into services designed to help and support children and teenagers.
But statistics show there has never been more of a need for this spending. The latest figures for Wigan Borough show:
- 217 under 18s were admitted to hospital for alcohol-specific health problems between 2005 and 2006.
- one in 10 reception aged pupils and nearly a fifth of Year 6 pupils are obese – this means that in a small number of years obesity levels are almost doubling and naturally this trend tracks into adulthood.
- in 2006 the rate of teenage pregnancy in the Borough was among the worst 20 boroughs in the UK.
- The Borough has the ninth highest chlamydia rate in England (out of 152 boroughs).
Wigan’s Director of Children and Young People’s Services Nick Hudson said: “There is no overnight cure to the health problems we face as a borough and our slide into recession is not helping matters.
“By continuing to listen to the concerns of our residents, working together and offering the highest levels of care, service and communication, we will make a difference to young people’s lives.”
Working hard for our children
Maurice Smith
By Maurice Smith
Non-executive lead for children, Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the special children’s supplement from NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan.
As the Non-Executive lead for children here at the PCT, I am immensely proud that our first special eight page edition will be focusing on children and young people.
This is particularly important as we are working hard with our partners in the Children and Young People’s Services to try and ensure our children have the best possible chance of a positive and bright future in the Borough. There is not always a quick fix for many of the problems we face today. By working together and helping each other, we can achieve our aim for our children of the Borough to be happy, safe and healthy.
