The Bolton Vision partners

What do we do?

Where do we want to go?
How are we doing?

Healthy BoltonHealthy Bolton

Poor health damages the quality of life, hindering access to jobs and services. It is no coincidence that Bolton’s least well off neighbourhoods are also the most unhealthy – in Bolton, wealth means health.

In the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Bolton people may live on average 15 years fewer than those in the most affluent neighbourhoods. On average the difference in life expectancy between the most disadvantaged areas and Bolton as a whole is 7.4 years.

By giving people the knowledge to improve their own health and improve their health choices, we aim to close these gaps and improve life expectancy for people in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods over the next 10 years.

These problems have deep-rooted causes that defy quick fixes and poor health cannot be solved by the NHS alone. Research proves that prosperous, sustainable communities where people want to live are also healthy communities. If all partner agencies can deliver against the six priority themes of Bolton: Our vision 2007-2017, our communities will become healthier.

You said:

  • good health services are one of the most important factors in making Bolton a good place to live
  • concerns about improving health are a particular priority for our residents.

We will:

narrow the health gap by improving the health of those living in the least well off areas

We want to make sure that everyone in Bolton can enjoy a healthy and happy life, regardless of where they live. We will:

  • reduce the gap in life expectancy between our less affluent neighbourhoods and the Bolton average from a current three year average of 7.4 years to 6.8 years by 2010, to 6.4 years by 2012 and to 5.4 years by 2017, by increasing the life expectancy of people in our less affluent neighbourhoods
  • reduce the gap in life expectancy between Bolton and the English average by 20%, from a current average of 2.32 years in men to 2.18 years by 2010, to 2.09 years by 2012 and to 1.87 years by 2017; and from a current average of 2.10 years in women to 1.97 years by 2010, to 1.89 years in 2012 and to 1.68 years by 2017, by increasing the life expectancy of people in our less affluent neighbourhoods.

address the causes of ill health

We will help more people to make more informed choices about their health, supporting them to stop smoking and to eat more healthily, for example. More women will be supported to make healthier choices before and during pregnancy, reducing the number of infant deaths. We will:

  • reduce the percentage of adults aged 18 and over who smoke from a provisional baseline of 26.05% in 2007 to 22.53% in 2012 and to 19.00% in 2017 (baseline and targets to be confirmed from Bolton Health Survey data in November 2007);
  • reduce Bolton’s infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births) from a current three year average of 6.2 to 5.9 in 2010, 5.7 in 2012 and 5.2 in 2017.

tackle drugs and alcohol misuse

Drugs and alcohol misuse has serious impacts on health. We are aiming to reduce the number of people admitted to hospital with alcohol related conditions.

There are recognised benefits in encouraging substance misusers into treatment both for the individual and their community. We will:

  • increase the number of successful completions from the treatment system for Class A drugs from 10% to 12% in 2010, 15% in 2012 and 20% in 2017
  • reduce the standardised hospital prevalence rate for alcohol specific conditions by 8% from 344.20 per 100,000 in 2002/2003 to 340.76 in 2010, to 333.88 in 2012 and to 316.68 in 2017
  • increase the percentage of new presentations offered Hepatitis B virus vaccinations from 46% in 2006/2007, and increase the percentage of current or ever injectors in treatment tested for Hepatitis C virus from 6% in 2006/2007, to 100% in both by 2010 and consistently maintaining both indicators at this level each year.

promote independence

We will give people receiving care and support greater control over their lives, and will support people to continue to live independently and to play a bigger role in their communities, thus reducing the strain on services. We will:

  • increase the number of people accessing Direct Payments or Individual Budgets from 238 in 2006/2007 by 30% in 2010, 50% in 2012 and 100% in 2017.

increase physical activity and sports participation

Active communities are healthier communities. We will work to improve sports and leisure facilities, and increase the numbers of those taking part in regular sport and physical activity, particularly from our less affluent neighbourhoods. We will:

  • increase participation in sport and physical activity from 22.7% of the Bolton population in 2006 to 28% by 2010, to 32.4% in 2012 and to 43.4% in 2017.