Goal E: Healthier for Longer

Healthwatch Thurrock surveyed 57 people about Goal E (Healthier for Longer) of the Thurrock Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2016/2020.

Of these people, 10% were not aware of any of the free health initiatives being run in Thurrock. This may be because they do not access online media or have never been referred by GP. It is important that people know about these services and initiatives such as free weight management and Thurrock health walks. 

Thurrock residents did express a number of concerns: 

•  there needed to be more offers on healthier food options, implying that healthy food tends to be expensive. It was also highlighted that there is a need for healthier options from food outlets such as takeaways and restaurants.
•  For those that were either current or ex-smokers, there were limited opportunities for smokers to be either referred or encouraged to quit. Health professional and GP referrals to smoking cessation was shown to be low, only 8 of the 29 said they had been referred to a stop smoking service. Workplaces’ supporting smoking cessation was also low. 
• They were unsure on e-cigarettes as a viable option for smoking cessation, the majority supported e-cigarettes as a potential method for smoking 14 cessation however but 9 of the 29 current or ex-smokers spoken to felt that e-cigarettes were as bad as smoking in terms of health impact.
•  Limited GP and/or Health professional knowledge of local support groups or networks for those with LTCs.
•  Limited written information provided when an individual is initially diagnosed or is being treated for cancer