'No magic bullet' says new health boss

NORTH Lincolnshire's new director of public health Frances Cunning has said 'there is no magic bullet' to solving the region's health problems.

Mrs Cunning, 53, has been in the job since November 2, taking over from Dr Andrew Furber.

She said: "There is not a magic bullet. It's about what we can do for ourselves."

Men living in deprived areas of North Lincolnshire face dying up to 10 years earlier than those in affluent areas, with coronary heart disease the region's biggest killer.

And Mrs Cunnings, who has two school-age sons, said a range of solutions were vital to cracking the problem.

She said: "At the moment, in certain age ranges, what we have to do is look at what we can do now to help reduce the effects of coronary heart disease.

"That's about increasing exercise, watching what you're eating, going for check ups and talking to your doctor if you're not feeling well.

"It includes things like not smoking when pregnant, not smoking in the house and not smoking at all. It's about new mothers breast-feeding for a significant part of the first year.

"It's not just about what the PCT can do."

For the full interview, buy today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.