Health Issues

"The Council and its partners have not made enough progress in tackling health inequalities. Life expectancy is lower than the national average and inequalities in health within the borough are worsening".....Teenage pregnancies are too high and the Council has had little impact in reducing smoking and alcohol misuse."

The Council's approach to alcohol misuse is underdeveloped. There is a recognised problem with heavy drinking in North East Lincolnshire. The lack of a co-ordinated response hinders the effectiveness of measures to counter it."...."A draft strategy went to the LSP in January 2007 but does not have an action plan, designated leads or timescales."

"The Council has only recently identified health as a priority; it was added explicitly to the corporate priorities for the first time in 2006/07." ......"Local people suffer comparatively worse health and die younger than in most other areas. Male life expectancy although improving slightly in line with the national trend is among the worst in the country."

"There is still a high incidence of premature death from coronary heart disease and cancers, and smoking in North East Lincolnshire remains more prevalent than anywhere else, with almost a third of all adults estimated to be regular smokers. A recent adolescent lifestyle survey revealed there are very high levels of teenage smokers with almost twice the national average among teenage young women."

Social and Minorities

"The needs of all local communities, in particular BME communities, are not well integrated into priorities and plans. ..... There is also little information on the needs of BME communities and other groups who may be at risk of disadvantage."

"In 2005/06 only 15% of all Council buildings were suitably accessible, compared to 54% nationally."

"The number of older people supported at home is relatively low.

"Older people's advisory services are unco-ordinated."