Education 'good for your health'
Thursday, 2nd August 2001.
EDUCATION has a crucial influence on Suffolk people's health, with those who achieve more qualifications enjoying better health and living longer.
This was one of the findings of Dr Brian Keeble, Suffolk's Director of Public Health, in his annual report.
He also links child poverty to attainment in 11-year-olds, with poorer results in areas where relatively high numbers of children have free school meals.
"Children and young people from more advantaged backgrounds do better at school and this provides them with opportunities to do better in their working lives, to command safer, less taxing jobs and higher income levels, to have a more comfortable lifestyle and, in turn, to confer advantage on their own children," Dr Keeble said.
Dr Keeble recommends schools should make additional study provision for disadvantaged pupils, but said community and parent involvement was also needed.
He also suggested initiatives aimed at eliminating child poverty, by increasing family incomes.
Prison health should also be treated as a priority by the NHS and the Prison Service, in Dr Keeble's view.
He raises concerns about high levels of smoking, drug abuse, chronic illnesses, mental illness and suicide attempts in Suffolk's three prisons, which include Highpoint at Stradishall.
Overall in Suffolk there was a slight decrease in cases of cancer, but osteoporosis was becoming more common, as was diabetes.
Dr Keeble will present his report to Suffolk Health Authority at their meeting in Ipswich on Wednesday.
Anyone who would like a copy of his report should ring (01473) 323415.
This was one of the findings of Dr Brian Keeble, Suffolk's Director of Public Health, in his annual report.
He also links child poverty to attainment in 11-year-olds, with poorer results in areas where relatively high numbers of children have free school meals.
"Children and young people from more advantaged backgrounds do better at school and this provides them with opportunities to do better in their working lives, to command safer, less taxing jobs and higher income levels, to have a more comfortable lifestyle and, in turn, to confer advantage on their own children," Dr Keeble said.
Dr Keeble recommends schools should make additional study provision for disadvantaged pupils, but said community and parent involvement was also needed.
He also suggested initiatives aimed at eliminating child poverty, by increasing family incomes.
Prison health should also be treated as a priority by the NHS and the Prison Service, in Dr Keeble's view.
He raises concerns about high levels of smoking, drug abuse, chronic illnesses, mental illness and suicide attempts in Suffolk's three prisons, which include Highpoint at Stradishall.
Overall in Suffolk there was a slight decrease in cases of cancer, but osteoporosis was becoming more common, as was diabetes.
Dr Keeble will present his report to Suffolk Health Authority at their meeting in Ipswich on Wednesday.
Anyone who would like a copy of his report should ring (01473) 323415.
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