A NEW healthcare strategy detailing a huge revamp to services across the region is to be launched this week.The massive blueprint will tackle health inequalities and deliver more effective health provision across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

A NEW healthcare strategy detailing a huge revamp to services across the region is to be launched this week.

The massive blueprint will tackle health inequalities and deliver more effective health provision across Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

Called the Health Delivery Plan it will set out what people can expect to see from the NHS by 2006.

Top of the priorities is to make sure patients have better access to services.

Tackling poverty and the effect it has on health is a big part of the plan, while looking at obesity, diabetes and smoking are high on the national agenda.

The Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridge Strategic Health Authority (SHA) has developed the plan and they will be looking at how people living in a deprived area are more likely to suffer life-threatening diseases and have a lower life expectancy.

Over the next three years the authority will be looking at how these threats to public health can be combated.

People will be encouraged to eat more healthily, stop smoking, eat more fruit and vegetables and exercise regularly.

Also included in the plan is an atlas of health in the region, pinpointing areas of deprivation.

It has taken into account things such as employment rates, teenage pregnancy rates, suicide rates and health services available in certain areas.

Peter Houghton, chief executive of the SHA said: "We know people still have concerns about waiting times and the health delivery plan explains how the improvements that will be made to services in the next three years will result in better access to care as well as faster treatment.

"The NHS will change a great deal by 2006. No one doubts that transforming the health service to meet the needs of future generations is absolutely essential."