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Figures released today by the Department of Health reveal a mixed picture of health care across Suffolk.

The figures reveal that patients in Suffolk are more likely to survive cancer and heart disease than two years ago. However they also that the number of patients waiting more than six months for an operation has increased dramatically.

Today’s figures show a three and a half per cent improvement in the numbers survive cancer, meaning 115.1 people die in every 100,000 who are found with the disease. The figures show an improvement of 5.7% compared with two years ago. However the Hillingdon Health Authority in London achieved an improvement of over 9 per cent.

The figures also show that the number of teenage pregnancies in Suffolk has fallen by four per cent to only 36 per 1000 girls aged 15 – 17. Suicide rates in the county have also improved by 1.7% over the two year period.

Waiting times across the county however show mixed improvement, a 5.10% deterioration in the numbers waiting over six months to be admitted to hospital, whilst the numbers seeing a consultant within 13 weeks of a GP’s referral has improved by 1.9%.

The number of cancelled operations for the West Suffolk NHS Trust stood at only 0.2% far lower than the average.

Nigel Crisp, talking about the publication of the NHS performance indicators today said: “The culture of openness and disclosure is here to stay. The health service belongs to the public and they must be able to see how it is performing.”