Aquatics and health

Using aquatics strategically to

improve population

health

Dr Ann Hoskins Deputy Regional Director of Public HealthNHS North West

Aquatics and health

NHS North West

• Population of 6.8M

• 14,165 km2

• NHS budget over £11Bn

• Public sector spend £47Bn (11% of GDP)

• 63 NHS organisations

• 46 Local Authorities

• 77 MPs

• 210,483 employees

Aquatics and health

Why increase activity?

Physical activity essential for good health

Helps prevent and manage more than 20 conditions and diseases

Children need one hour each day of moderately intensive exercise eg?

Adults need moderate exercise for 30 minutes at least 5 days a week e.g.?

But…..

Aquatics and health

Why increase activity?

• In England, almost seven out of 10 of men and almost eight out of 10 women do not achieve this level of activity

• One in three of boys over one in three girls are also insufficiently active.

Aquatics and health

The Active People Survey3 x 30 Participation in the North West Region

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84

Individual ages

Per

cen

tag

e

North West (Males)

North West (Females)

Aquatics and health

Health challenges in the North West

Highest rate Deaths from heart disease and

strokeLong term mental health

problems

Second highest ratedeaths from cancer and

smokingfeeling in poor health

Aquatics and health

Health inequalities in the North West

Manchester 67 years

Low life expectancy

Chelsea

82 years

Infant mortality

rates above

England average

Aquatics and health

Health challenges in the North West

400,000 people of working

age on incapacity benefit

high rates of obesity

Aquatics and health

Trends in overweight & obesity prevalence among children

1995/1997 – 2003/2005

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

1995-97 1996-98 1997-99 1998-00 1999-01 2000-02 2001-03 2002-04 2003-05

Health Survey for England (unweighted counts)

Perc

en

tag

e o

f ch

ild

ren

overw

eig

ht

(in

clu

din

g o

bese)

Girls 2-10

Boys 2-10

Aquatics and health

North West Childhood Obesity

Prevalence in Primary School Children

Aquatics and health

Aquatics and health

Physical Activity Alliance

Aquatics and health

Health challenges in the North West

• By 2029 there will be 50% By 2029 there will be 50% more 75 to 89 year more 75 to 89 year oldsolds

• Long-term conditions Long-term conditions increase as population increase as population agesages

• Swimming good for Swimming good for joint and muscle joint and muscle problemsproblems

• By 2029 there will be 50% By 2029 there will be 50% more 75 to 89 year more 75 to 89 year oldsolds

• Long-term conditions Long-term conditions increase as population increase as population agesages

• Swimming good for Swimming good for joint and muscle joint and muscle problemsproblems

Aquatics and health

• increase participation in sport

• improve health of different groups

• meet different health needs

Using aquatics to tackle these challenges

Aquatics and health

Swimming – North West compared with England

Group England North West

All adults*

12.20% (4,786,945)

12.20% (651,182)

Men**

8.97% (1,713,434)

8.80% (227,452)

Women**

15.24% (3,068,638)

15.40% (423,916)

Age 16-34

15.42% (1,914,521)

15.50% (255,035)

Age 35-54

14.45% (1,999,325)

14.30% (270,260)

Age 55+

7.04% (914,162)

7.30% (131,564)

White**

12.61% (4,498,803)

12.50% (630,068)

Non White**

7.65% (272,400)

7.30% (21,682)

With disability** 7.62% (536,085)

7.10% (78,522)

Highest SE Group

14.47% (1,232,938)

14.80% (153,095)

Lowest SE Group

10.09% (619,849)

9.90% (90,300)

* Swimming in the last 4 weeks** Number has been approximated based on total % of the population who are adults.

Aquatics and health

National policies

Sport England

Health Challenge England

Our NHS Our Future

Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives

Public Service Agreements

Treasury’s national physical activity strategy

Aquatics and health

• A North West Framework to Achieve Healthy weight

• NHS North West Corporate Plan

• Local Area Agreements

• Local delivery

Regional work

Aquatics and health

What works?

NICE guidance• brief interventions in primary

care Two recommendations

i. Advice on activity, using validated tool

ii. Individually tailored, with agreed goals and follow up

Aquatics and health

What works?

NICE • Obesity guidance –

actions for primary care trusts and local authorities

Aquatics and health

Evaluation

• Still short of evidence for what works• Important to evaluate• Sport and Physical Activity

interventions

Aquatics and health

The World Health

Organisationrecommends

between 10-20% of total

interventioncosts should

be spenton evaluation.

Aquatics and health

Overview of evaluation process