The 2012 Health Profiles are now publicly available and can be accessed via the Health Profiles website. Health Profiles contain a summary of information on the health of the people in our local authority area and some factors that may influence their health.
You can take a look for yourself here. There is a helpful health summary for Oxford City, showing in what areas we are better or worse off than the rest of the country.
Shamefully the City’s results are poor for GCSEs achieved, and other areas where we need to improve are
- violent crime
- incidence of malignant melanoma
- hospital stays for self harm
- drug misuse
- acute sexually transmitted diseases
Update from a consultant in dermatology
The melanoma incidence is 32:100,000 in Oxfordshire which is far higher than UK average as per cancer research UK stats (approx 18:100,000). Undoubtedly part of the increased incidence is due to the population make up: high percentage of affluent Caucasians (the right demographic for MM. However, additionally we can prove that our diagnostic accuracy is comparable if not superior to the best cancer centres in the USA (data to be presented next week at the British Association of Dermatologists annual meeting). Thus we have a proven track record of expertise in melanoma diagnosis, due to the uptake and training of all tumour consultants in dermoscopy. Additionally Dr Jonathan Bowling and Mr Oliver Cassell pioneered training in dermoscopy for plastic surgeons with the international dermoscopy course for plastic surgeons taking place in Oxford annually since 2010. In essence by training in dermoscopy we diagnose more melanomas than any other centre, at earlier stages, whilst performing the least number of procedures to do so, making our service a world leading service.