Planning now for a future generation
Last updated 16:06, Wednesday, 20 August 2008
THE University of Cumbria is set to play a vital role in the future health of people in Cumbria. Visiting Professor and Director of Public Health, Dr John Ashton, said the university must help shape the future of public health by providing resources and expertise to help the region face a unique challenge in the next two decades.
Following publication of his first annual report on the health of people in Cumbria, Dr Ashton said there are five factors unique to the county: demographics, health inequalities across the region, a shortage of intelligence, limits to capacity and the widespread nature of communities across the area.
”Cumbria faces a unique health challenge. Put simply, we need to do things differently,” he said.
“My work with the University of Cumbria will involve looking at health courses as well as ensuring that resources and research are focused on tackling the challenges that a changing demographic will bring.”
Dr Ashton said that the university will work with Cumbria Primary Care Trust, county and district councils to deliver the required changes to health care.
“In future, the geographical challenges of travelling across Cumbria, coupled with the increasing demands of an ageing population, will see the emergence of the ‘closer to home’ approach to delivering health care, with NHS services delivered to people in their homes.
“For this to succeed, training and resources must be put in place. There is no way the NHS alone can cater for all future demand,” said Dr Ashton.
For example, as people live longer, Cumbria could be home to as many as 2,500 centenarians in the next 30 years.
Dr Robin Talbot, Dean of the Faculty of Health, Medical Science and Social Care at the university, agreed that the university has a major role in tackling health care challenges.
“We aim to gather and improve health intelligence to deal with variations in Cumbrian lifestyles and attitudes to health, as well as building skills to allow further and higher education to play its part in equipping people to care for themselves,” said Dr Talbot.
Dr Ashton added: “Make no mistake, Cumbria is unique in its geographic, demographic and mobility challenges. By tackling these issues, we can help avoid a health crisis in the next 20 years.”
