With the release of the eighth report of the Queensland Chief Health Officer, The health of Queenslanders 2018, improving health statistics reflect well on the hard work put in by the North West Hospital and Health Service staff, says Chief Executive, Lisa Davies Jones.
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“We have achieved the highest proportion of healthy birth weight babies than any other Hospital and Health Service, a fantastic accolade for our strong team of midwives and outreach midwives.
“We also have the third largest decrease (5%) in premature death rates among the HHSs, and the death rate is decreasing (by 7%) for lifestyle related chronic diseases, which is very pleasing as chronic diseases are our biggest health concern in the North West,” Ms Davies Jones said.
The number of adults who smoked daily is 15%, a 5% decrease on 2016; 33% of adults self-reported as obese, down 6% from 2016.
Ms Davies Jones said although these lifestyle risk factors were much higher than the Queensland average, 34% and 31% higher respectively, the decreases were encouraging.
“However, we are concerned that 25% of women smoked during pregnancy in 2016, more than double the Queensland average, and this increases risks at delivery.
“We’re also concerned that our rate of childhood mortality is higher than the state average, and our children have the highest rate of overweight and obesity.”
In terms of Closing the Gap, Ms Davies Jones said there was a concern that the median age at death for Indigenous people was only 54 years in the North West HHS, 19 years less than for non-Indigenous people in the region.
“However, I can see already that measures we have put in place to improve the health of people in the North West are taking effect and I am confident the life expectancy of Indigenous people will show an increase in future.
“The Lower Gulf Strategy which is already showing improved health outcomes in Doomadgee, Mornington Island and Normanton, is a strategy that provides integrated health care to these communities, focusing on prevention and primary health care before the patients’ conditions become acute and life-threatening.
“In fact, in the light of the lifestyle risk factors, it is in everyone’s interests to work to improve their own health outcomes at a primary and preventive level, by giving up smoking, managing their food and alcohol intake and exercising more,” Ms Davies Jones said.
The Chair of the North West Hospital and Health Board, Paul Woodhouse, said the report reflects well on all service providers who are prepared to work collaboratively in order to address the region’s most critical health issues.
“The results are an early indication of the right future direction and intent of the NWHHS and credit is due to all staff and the communities we serve.
“While much more still needs to be done, it’s important to recognise these improvements as key milestones on the road to better health outcomes for the North West,” Mr Woodhouse said.
The report is available here: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/research-reports/reports/public-health/cho-report/current/full