New Online Snapshot of Health Published

15 September 2010

This information can be found in the new Health Protection Profiles, which look at 19 health categories or "indicators", and compares local areas with others that are similar (based on key characteristics) and the national average, they can be found at: www.hpa.org.uk/healthprotectionprofiles

The profiles cover infections such as measles, TB, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), vaccine uptake for jabs such as MMR, HPV and seasonal influenza, rates of malignant melanoma (skin cancer), food poisoning notifications and environmental hazards, such as high radon gas levels in homes.

People using the profiles can see whether their local area has a high rate of Chlamydia infection, good uptake of the MMR vaccine, a high percentage of establishments compliant with food safety, or low levels of tuberculosis.

Although there are a number of positive messages for Yorkshire and the Humber, the profiles show a varied picture across the region in relation to vaccine uptake and rates of infectious disease. The snapshot shows that:

• Bradford and Airedale is amongst the highest areas in the country for the uptake of the first and second doses of the MMR vaccine by five years in 2008/09. Uptake of the vaccine in Kirklees was also higher than average. In Calderdale, not a single case of measles was recorded between 2006 and 2008. However, uptake needs to be improved further in all three areas in order to protect the community from measles, mumps and rubella. In contrast, uptake of the first dose of the MMR vaccine by two years of age in Leeds was lower than the national average, and so even more needs to be done in this area to protect the community from these infections.
• Wakefield was among the highest areas in the country for diagnoses of Chlamydia among 15 to 24 year olds in 2008. However, only 8% of this age group in Wakefield were screened. Chlamydia is a preventable, treatable sexually transmitted infection. The district also had the eighth lowest percentage of people aged 65 and over accepting the pneumococcal vaccine in the country from April 2004 to March 2008. This vaccine is offered to help prevent infection and stop the spread of disease among people who are at greater risk of complications.
• Leeds had the eighth highest percentage of girls aged 12-13 years accepting all three doses of the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine in the country for 2008/09. The vaccine is offered to reduce the risk of acquiring the virus that causes cervical cancer.
• Rates of tuberculosis in Leeds, Kirklees and Bradford and Airedale were among the highest in the country for 2004/06, and Kirklees was also among the highest areas in the country for the rate of hospital admissions due to asthma in 2007.
• Doncaster was amongst the highest areas in the country for the percentage of girls aged 12-13 years accepting all three doses of the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine in 2008/09 - the vaccine offered to reduce the risk of acquiring the virus that causes cervical cancer. The percentage of people aged 65 years and over accepting the pneumococcal vaccine in Doncaster was also among the highest in the country from April 2004 to March 2008. The vaccine is offered to protect against infection and help stop the spread of disease in people who are at greater risk of complications. Also in Doncaster, the percentage of people in at risk groups accepting the seasonal flu vaccine was among the highest in the country for 2008/09.
• However, rates of measles in Doncaster were above the national average for 2006/08, and more children in Doncaster need to be protected with two doses of the MMR vaccine by five years of age in order to protect the community from measles, mumps and rubella.
• Barnsley had the third highest percentage of five year olds having the first dose of the MMR vaccine by five years and the highest uptake of the second dose by five years in the country in 2008/09. Barnsley was also among the highest areas in the country for the uptake of the seasonal flu vaccine in at risk groups in 2008/09.
• Rotherham also had high rates of people in at risk groups accepting the seasonal flu vaccine in 2008/09, and high uptake of HPV vaccine.
• However, in Sheffield, the percentage of girls aged 12-13 accepting three doses of the HPV vaccine was below the national average for the same year. Sheffield was also among the highest areas in the country for rates of tuberculosis (TB) diagnoses for 2004/06.
• Rotherham and Sheffield are among the highest areas in the country for the rate of skin cancer in all ages under 75 for 2004/2006, and so people in these areas need to be particularly aware of what they can do to enjoy the sun more safely.
• In East Riding of Yorkshire and Hull, uptake of the first dose of the MMR vaccine by two years of age in the East Riding of Yorkshire was above the national average in 2008/09 but needs to be improved further to reach the World Health Organisation's target of 95% in order to protect the community from measles, mumps and rubella. The rate of measles cases in North Lincolnshire were amongst the lowest in the country for 2006/08, however uptake of the first and second doses of the MMR vaccine also needs to be increased in this area.
• East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire was amongst the highest areas in the country for the uptake of all three doses of the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine in 12-13 year old girls in 2008/09. The vaccine is offered to reduce the risk of acquiring the virus, which can cause cervical cancer.
  Rates of tuberculosis (TB) remained low in parts of North Yorkshire and York for 2004/06, and no cases were reported within the same time period for North East Lincolnshire.
• East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire and York were among the lowest areas in the country for the rate of people living with HIV in 2007. This may be a reflection of the local population, which may have a low percentage of persons in at-risk groups.
• However, North East Lincolnshire was among the lowest areas in the country for the uptake of the seasonal flu vaccine in at-risk groups in 2008/09.
• Hull and North East Lincolnshire were also among the highest areas in the country for the rate of Chlamydia diagnoses among 15-24 year olds in 2008. Chlamydia is a preventable sexually transmitted infection, and so more people in the area need to practice safe sex.

Although the data itself has been published before, this interactive and user-friendly format is new and highly visual having been designed and developed following repeated road testing and discussions with members of the public.

Dr Stephen Morton, Regional Director for Health Protection Agency Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "This type of health data is important for the public, but often in the past it's not been easy to find, understand and compare local areas. These new profiles signal a change in how we present this information, allowing people to become more aware of local health issues, understand their context a little more and know where to go to find out more.

"Many people know of the risks to health and the steps that they can take to help protect themselves such as vaccinations and safe sex, but these new geographic profiles help show the risks and protective measures that are most important to them, giving people a greater understanding of how these risks may affect them and what they can do about them".

Ends

Notes for Editors
1. For more information on the symptoms, causes and treatment of tuberculosis (TB), go to www.hpa.org.uk or www.nhs.uk/conditions/tuberculosis
2. For further information on MMR, HPV, seasonal flu and pneumococcal vaccination uptake, go to  www.immunisation.nhs.uk
3. For further information on STIs and chlamydia screening, go to www.hpa.org.uk or www.chlamydiascreening.hpa.nhs.uk
4. Health profiles provide an at-a-glance picture of health issues in local areas through geographical maps, tables and graphs. Local areas can be easily compared with the national average or with another area for any given issue. These comparisons also allow users to see where changes have occurred over time.
5. The profiles also carry more in depth information, designed to support agencies in the local NHS and local councils to identify priority areas for action to improve health and areas for commissioning of services. They can also be used to help track the impact of such initiatives.
6. The 19 health indicators contained in the profiles are:

 

Vaccine Preventable Diseases	Percentage coverage of one dose of MMR at 2 years
	Percentage coverage of one and two doses of MMR at 5 years
	Number of confirmed measles cases
	Percentage coverage of HPV vaccine among girls aged 12-13 years
Hepatitis	Uptake of Hepatitis B testing through antenatal screening
	Prevalence of HBsAg in antenatal women
Environmental, Chemical and Radiological Hazards	Percentage of homes above the radon action level
	Incidence of malignant melanomas
Gastrointestinal Disease	Percentage of establishments compliant with food safety
	Notifications of food poisoning
	Rate of laboratory confirmed cases of gastrointestinal disease
Respiratory Infections	Incidence of Tuberculosis
	Percentage uptake of the pneumococcal vaccine in people aged 65 years and over
	Hospital admissions due to asthma
	Percentage uptake of influenza vaccine in at risk groups
Sexually Transmitted Infections	The number of new diagnoses of gonorrhoea and syphilis infections in GUM
	Rate of chlamydia diagnoses among individuals aged 15-24 years
	Prevalence rate of diagnosed HIV among persons 15 years and above
	Proportion of new HIV diagnoses categorised as recent infections

Issued by Charlotte Farrar
Charlotte.farrar@hpa.org.uk
0113 284 0618
07810 684 104

Last reviewed: 8 December 2010