REDUCING rates of MRSA and bringing down debts are today named at the top of the agenda for Suffolk health bosses.A list of priorities within the county's health system has been revealed in a Suffolk Primary Care Trust's (PCT's) report for the coming year.

REDUCING rates of MRSA and bringing down debts are today named at the top of the agenda for Suffolk health bosses.

A list of priorities within the county's health system has been revealed in a Suffolk Primary Care Trust's (PCT's) report for the coming year.

The year coming is the final one in a three-year plan for the PCT.

The new report, which plans for 2007/08, said its revised priorities are reducing rates of MRSA and other healthcare acquired infections, achieving a maximum wait of 18 weeks for patients between GP referral and the start of treatment, reducing health inequalities and promoting health and well-being and achieving financial health.

Caroline Tuohy, director of commissioning and development for the PCT, said: “Our vision is a National Health Service in Suffolk that cares for individuals and communities with high quality services that are efficient, effective and striving continuously for excellence.

“The government remains firm that the overarching immediate objective must be to restore financial balance to ensure long term stability while achieving current targets.

“The plan is now to sustain a balanced position and pay off the debt. Most of the actions to achieve this are about improving efficiency and brining benefits to healthcare, not cuts in patient care.”

Other targets listed in the report include reducing conception rates in women aged 15 to 17 years old from 32.8 in 1,000 to 24.4 in 1,000, reducing mortality from heart disease, strokes and related diseases by 40pc in people under 75 and reducing deaths from cancer by 20pc in people under 75.

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