PEOPLE in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale are getting healthier according to the area's director of public health.

Life expectancy for people living in the area is below the national average, with deaths due to respiratory disease 27 per cent higher than normal and heart disease 34 per cent above average. About 16 per cent of the population suffers long-term limiting illness.

But Dr Ellis Friedman, director of public health for Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust, said the gap is narrowing.

And the trust has revealed plans to improve services during the next three years.

Dr Friedman said: "In absolute terms, health is improving locally. The question is whether we are closing the gap on the rest of the country. Heart disease is the biggest killer and we are doing really quite well."

Doctors have found high mortality and illness rates are linked to social and economic deprivation. All East Lancashire districts except Ribble Valley are in the lowest fifth nationally according to figures on life expectancy, mortality and deprivation.

The average life expectancy for a woman in Burnley is 78.1 years, in Rossendale 78.9 years, Pendle 79.7 and nationally 80.7. Male life expectancy in Burnley and Rossendale is 74.4 years, in Pendle 74.9 and the nationally 76.1 years.

Health bosses have now come up with a new way of assessing health needs in different parts of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale. Rather than looking at people by geographical area, health chiefs now analyse similar types of people.

Dr Friedman said: "This looks closely at areas with the same characteristics, like car ownership and things like that. This allows us to identify hotspots."

Now the Primary Care Trust is working towards an 18-week limit for people waiting for treatment by looking at how long patients currently wait to be seen and assessing what type of care they need and how to deliver it. Over the next three years it also has plans for dental services, older people and sexual health.