Caron Grainger, Coventry's Director of Public Health, gave VAC's Health and Social Care Forum a very focused analysis of the biggest killers for Coventry people and the likely trends as the population ages. Although Coventry has a relatively young age profile due to the larger numbers of children and young people than average, as the population lives longer the prevalence of some conditions will increase.

Smoking kills 500 Coventry people every year - 1 in 6 deaths are smoking-related - and Coventry is falling well short on its targets for people quitting. Coventry fares badly on COPD (breathing related diseases such as bronchitus) and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), and although smoking amongst men is falling, amongst women it is rising.

Strokes are also a major concern - although Coventry is better than average due to its younger population, the trend locally and nationally is upwards. Late onset (i.e. later in life) Type 2 diabetes is also set to rise dramatically substantially due to the rise in obesity, with lack of exercise being a major issue amongst others. Meanwhile alcohol-related admissions to Walsgrave Hospital have DOUBLED since 2003, many of these being accident or fight related.

Taking these major diseases together (CHD, stroke, diabetes, COPD and lung cancer) the number of cases for Coventry's current population is expected to rise from under 46,000 in 2005 to 54,000 by 2020.

The key recommendations are therefore to tackle smoking and alcohol and promote healthy weight, including promoting healthy eating and cooking skills as well as exercise. Earlier diagnosis of lung cancer and spotting strokes earlier are also key issues, as is greater delivery of COPD, diabetes and rehabilitation services in community settings.