Heart attacks on rise in Oldham

THE number of people admitted to the Royal Oldham Hospital with heart attacks is rising as numbers fall across the country.

According to Department of Health, 21 people were admitted to the ROH between October and December, 2006, compared with 30 in the same period last year.

The figures, which give admissions before and after the smoking ban, show that nationally there was a 2 per cent fall in admissions from 4,979 to 4,889.

Health bosses say the rates of heart disease and deaths from heart disease in Oldham are not rising, but they remain above the national average.

Oldham Primary Care Trust’s director of public health, Alan Higgins, said: “We’ve been working for some time on identifying people who are at risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular problems, as well as those who already have problems.

“We then make sure they receive the appropriate advice and treatment, which could range from specialist exercise programmes to lifestyle advice, support to stop smoking or being prescribed statins to cut cholesterol.

“There are also plans for a screening programme which will carry out checks on people to spot the warning signs.

“And of course we continue to work to get the message across that people should quit smoking, eat healthily and take more exercise.

“All of these changes to your lifestyle can make a huge difference to your chances of suffering a heart attack.

“We have a specialist group specifically looking at this area and we will continue to work with people in Oldham to improve their health.”

From 2010-11 the Government wants to see heart checks offered to people aged 40 to 74.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “Our 2010 target, to reduce deaths from cardiovascular disease by 40 per cent in people under 75, has already been met five years earlier than expected.

“Earlier this year, we announced a national screening programme to identify vulnerability to vascular diseases that could save 2,000 lives.”