Bolton Health and Lifestyle Survey 2007

In June, one in ten adults in Bolton can expect to receive a health and lifestyle survey from the Public Health Department of Bolton Primary Care Trust. The survey includes questions on general health and symptoms of poor health, emotional well being, lifestyle factors such as smoking and physical activity, use of health care services as well as some questions to find out people’s views of their neighbourhood. The information collected in the survey will be used by the Primary Care Trust (PCT) to help plan health services in Bolton and prioritise spending according to the health needs of Bolton people.

People receiving the survey have been picked at random from the list of people living in Bolton who are registered with a GP. The survey will begin to be sent out on June 4th with a letter from the Director of Public Health, Jan Hutchinson, and a business reply envelope to return the survey freepost. The survey should take about 15 minutes to fill in. The survey is available in different languages if needed and in large print for those with sight difficulties. A health survey help line is available for queries regarding the survey (01204 462174) along with an email address (healthsurvey@bolton.nhs.uk)

A similar survey was sent to people in 2001 and 7000 people responded to it leading to an excellent response rate of almost 70%. The PCT hope for another good response from the 2007 survey. It is very important that as many people respond as possible, as it enables the PCT to identify particular types of health needs or problems in certain areas of Bolton or within groups of people. This way the PCT can place or target a service for those people in most need of the service. We will also be able to look at changes in health since 2001.

Some examples of how the survey in 2001 has been used to improve health and services include:

• The survey information helped to locate where the new health facilities currently being built in Bolton are located, so to bring the maximum health benefit to the people of Bolton
• The information on the numbers of people who smoke in Bolton helped the PCT to improve the Stop Smoking Service so to help those people and those areas where smoking rates are highest
• The information gained from questions on bodily pain and back ache led to the joint and muscle pain services being improved
• Community safety work throughout areas of Bolton has been helped with information from the survey on crime and people in fear of crime. Fear of crime is found to be a barrier to people wanting to lead healthier lifestyles
• It has helped to decide how money should be spent to improve health in the most deprived areas of Bolton

The results of the 2001 health survey can be viewed from the following website www.bolton.nhs.uk/publications/documents/BoltonHealth2001.pdf

The results of the 2007 survey will be available towards the end of the year through a series of reports.

If you do receive a health survey please try to find the time to fill it in and return it. It’s your chance to tell us about your health so we can help to plan services to improve your health and lifestyle.

Many thanks in advance
Jan Hutchinson
Director of Public Health
Bolton PCT