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For further copies of this report please contact: Emma Thomas Tel: 0151 443 4987 Health & Social Care Headquarters Nutgrove Villa Westmorland Road Huyton L36 6GA www.knowsley.nhs.uk www.knowsley.gov.uk If you require this document in Braille, large print or another language please call the Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 073 0578 Healthier Together Building a Healthier and Happier Knowsley07 Community © Knowsley Health & Social Care 2008 Printed on recycled paper Our Community’s Health | Real Lives | The Future Foreword We are pleased to present to you Knowsley’s Public Health Annual Report for 2007. The report has been written jointly by the Director of Public Health, the Executive Director of Children’s Services, and the Director of Health and Social Care, since we are all working together to improve the health of the population. This report, Healthier Together, looks at each of the geographical areas in Knowsley, and considers their history, the current issues, the health challenges and the future developments. We hope this will give people more of an understanding of life in each area within Knowsley. This report gives a flavour of the wonderful mix of organisations in Knowsley, all working together to improve life for local people. An enormous amount of regeneration is taking place, which will result in great improvements in the quality of life for local people. Many aspects of life are already improving for Knowsley residents, and this is being reflected in improving health. We hope you find this report interesting and informative. Contents 04 Kirkby 16 Huyton 28 Prescot, Whiston, Cronton & Knowsley Village Dr Diana Forrest Damian Allen Jan Coulter 36 Halewood Director of Public Health Executive Director of Director of Health Children’s Services and Social Care 42 Contributors 43 Useful Contact Numbers Building a Healthier and Happier Knowsley Community 43 Acknowledgements NB: Real names and pictures are not being used for the stories in this report. The stories are true, but names and pictures have been changed to protect confidentiality. Kirkby Wards North Kirkby: Northwood, Park and Shevington South Kirkby: Cherryfield, Kirkby Central and Whitefield Population North Kirkby: 21,800 South Kirkby: 21,000 Sandy Brow Farm c.1920’s © Knowsley Library Service Past It is thought that there has been a settlement at Kirkby since at least the 9th century, Sixteen new schools were needed for the children and young people who made up a high with the earliest known chapel dating from 870 AD. Norse people arrived and settled proportion of the population. At the peak of development, the town also had 15 churches, in Kirkby (via Ireland) around the same time. Up until the 20th century, the area remained 13 pubs, 12 doctors’ surgeries, 3 clinics and 6 banks. However, the provision of amenities rural with a population of less than 1,000 and farming as the main occupation. did not keep pace with the rate of housing development and population influx. For example, the first permanent shops were not opened until 1955. At the start of World War Two, a Royal Ordnance Factory was built on 12 farms in the area to provide munitions. There were 32,000 workers when production was at its height. As the population grew, it became clear there was a risk of overcrowding on the new estates. Most of the workers travelled in from surrounding towns, although a few homes were In the 1960s an additional estate was built at Tower Hill, on the northern edge of the town. built for managers and key staff. Initially, all homes were rented. In recent years, however, the housing mix in Kirkby has changed, When the ordnance factory closed, Liverpool City Council began to develop an industrial estate with many new homes built for sale. In particular, the area north of Shevington Lane, Tower Hill, on the site. In 1947, industries in Kirkby included paint manufacture, kitchen cabinets, aluminium has been extensively developed. Another 300 new homes, mostly for sale, will be built as part products and engineering works. It was the presence of these employment opportunities which of the planned regeneration of Tower Hill. helped Liverpool identify Kirkby as the location for housing development. Throughout this time the industrial estate has had mixed fortunes. It was developed and During the 1950s, Kirkby was greatly expanded by Liverpool City Council, with three new estates extended to house a wider range of businesses, then suffered decline during the high built to address housing shortages in the City. The population of Kirkby rose rapidly from 3,145 unemployment of the 1970s and 1980s when many factories closed. Over the past 10 years it to 52,088 by the early 1960s. Kirkby Urban District Council was created in 1958 to manage has been growing again, attracting new companies providing services as well as manufacturing. the new town. 4 Kirkby Kirkby 5 Present Achievements Key Issues Residents in Kirkby are benefiting from a number of new services and facilities. There are two Area Partnership Boards for Kirkby (North and South), each with their own Tower Hill Primary Care and Community Resource Centre, for example, opened in membership and locally based team of officers. Due to the many similarities across the town, December 2005. The building brings health services and community facilities under however, the two Boards have agreed the same priorities for action. one roof. There are two GP practices, health and social care services, a pharmacy and a wide range of clinics on one side, with community and leisure facilities on Reducing crime and anti-social behaviour has been a focal point of action for the police and other partners. Work undertaken by the police in the community has helped in preventing the other. Community and youth groups regularly use the building for activities. and detecting crime, as well as reducing anti-social behaviour. Kirkby also has a new Sports Centre, right on the edge of the town centre. In terms of health, both men and women in Kirkby have a lower life expectancy than the It replaces the separate leisure centre and swimming pool, offering a wider range Knowsley average. More adults in the town smoke compared to the Borough average, of activities. In its first three weeks, 1,161 adults registered to use the centre. and smoking rates are significantly higher than the national figure. Rates of smoking are The number of young people using local sports facilities has gone up from 1,500 highest amongst those who are unemployed or have never worked. to more than 3,000 since the centre opened in September 2007. South Kirkby has the highest levels of binge drinking and North Kirkby the highest teenage pregnancy rate of the six Area Partnership Boards in Knowsley. With this in mind, helping to The latest new service for residents is Kirkby Walk in Centre, which opened in give young people positive opportunities and activities that they can take part in is a priority December 2007. Based in St Chad’s Clinic in the town centre, it is staffed by nurses for both South and North Kirkby. This includes work to reduce alcohol and substance misuse who can provide treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. and teenage pregnancy. Both North and South Area Partnership Boards have also been involved in a major consultation about the redevelopment of Kirkby Town Centre. Knowsley Council arranged wide consultation, Stop Smoking Service the results of which have been used to develop a draft vision for the new town centre. Smoking is the major cause of ill health and early deaths in Knowsley and is a particular problem Better public transport, building new schools and improving the environment are also key issues. in South Kirkby, where smoking rates are much higher than the Knowsley and England averages. South Kirkby residents suffer from a number of smoking-related health problems, including heart disease, cancers and breathing difficulties. There is a range of services to help people to quit smoking. Some are based in pharmacies and GP practices, while the Roy Castle Fag Ends stop smoking service offers free support at community venues across the area. Health Trainers are on hand to support anyone who needs help with going to the services. Another team of smoking cessation workers go into schools, colleges and youth centres to tackle the problem as early as possible. Both smokers and non-smokers can get involved in the Knowsley Smoke Free Community initiative. The aim is to make it easy for people to get information about how becoming smoke free can benefit everyone. As many homes, buildings and community groups as possible will be encouraged to become smoke free and display the Smoke Free message. 6 Kirkby Kirkby 7 “It’s great to know that there’s someone there to support you.” Real lives Carol and John Support to stop smoking Carol and John are a married couple, both in their mid 40s. They are carers for their son, who has mental health problems. Both Carol and John had smoked up to 20 cigarettes a day since they were teenagers. The couple decided to give up smoking in July, after the ban came into effect. Publicity about the ban had made them more aware of smoking related issues and they felt it was the right time to make this change to their lifestyle. Carol was worried about the effect smoking was having on her son, who did not smoke, and about who would look after their son if they became ill. John was also worrying about the financial cost of smoking. He thought they would benefit if they gave up, maybe even being able to afford a family holiday.