Praise for North’s health services

8:23am Tuesday 12th August 2008

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HEALTH services in the region are among the best in the country and still improving, according to the annual report of the North-East Strategic Health Authority.

In the past year, the quality of patient care in the North-East was assessed as the best in the country, with 17 out of the 23 NHS organisations in the region rated either excellent or good for quality.

The North-East was also confirmed as one of the best in England for treating patients who suffer heart failure, while hospitals in the region were found to provide the best maternity care in the country.

The report also shows that between April last year and March, NHS organisations across the North- East provided patients with faster and better access to healthcare.

Waiting times have been reduced even further and the NHS is on track to meet the December target for patients to be treated within 18 weeks of referral by their GP.

The report also highlights work to prevent ill health and reduce inequalities, with a 61 per cent fall in deaths from heart disease in people under 75 between 1993 and last year, and a 25 per cent reduction in deaths from cancer during the same period.

Other achievements include some of the strongest performing NHS stop smoking services in the country.

During the year nearly 24,000 people used the services to quit.

Work has also progressed on a number of buildings and refurbishments across the region, resulting in better facilities for patients and staff.

Millions of pounds have also been invested in training and developing NHS staff.

Ian Dalton, chief executive of the North-East Strategic Health Authority, said: “This year’s annual report shows that the NHS in the North- East has a lot to be proud of, as it has some of the best healthcare in the country.

“This achievement is without doubt down to the drive and dedication of staff working at all levels of the NHS.

“We now want to make the excellent services even better and step up the already successful health improvement work we are doing.”