Prevention first – how social prescribing is saving lives in Blackpool

I had the privilege of visiting Citizens Advice on Whitegate Drive to see firsthand the incredible work they’re doing to support residents with respiratory health conditions. I met with Steve, the dedicated lead on their respiratory project, who shared how their team has already helped over 3,500 people across Blackpool.

Too often, our health system is forced to step in when people are already in crisis. What Citizens Advice is offering through its social prescribing programme turns that model on its head. Instead of waiting for someone to seek medical help in distress, they’re connecting people early with link workers – professionals who provide holistic support aimed at managing and preventing the health of those with respiratory conditions from deteriorating. That means fewer emergency hospital admissions and more people able to lead fulfilling lives despite chronic conditions.

Here in Blackpool, we desperately need this kind of approach.

Respiratory disease is one of the leading causes of death in people under 75 across England – and the situation in Blackpool is significantly worse. Between 2019 and 2023, there were 1,413 deaths from respiratory conditions in our town – that’s nearly 300 lives lost each year. In 2023 alone, 110 of those deaths were people under 75. Our under-75 mortality rate from respiratory disease is the highest of any local authority in the country.

The causes are complex, but we know the key drivers. Blackpool has high rates of smoking – the biggest cause of COPD – and many residents live in poorly maintained housing where mould and damp exacerbate breathing problems. In 2023/24, nearly 4% of the local population was identified as living with COPD – double the national average – and even that is a likely underestimate.

It’s clear we cannot treat our way out of this crisis. Prevention must be the priority.

That’s why what Citizens Advice is doing matters so much. Their link workers connect people not just with medical support, but with tackling the root causes of ill health. This is what modern, compassionate public health should look like.

Thanks to Steve and the rest of the team at Blackpool Citizens Advice for welcoming me and for offering such a vital service to our community. My caseworker Grace came along with me and will now be able to signpost people who come to my office with respiratory health concerns to the support they need. It’s partnerships like this that will help people in Blackpool breathe easier – quite literally.

If you or someone you know is living with a respiratory health condition, please reach out to Citizens Advice at 01253 308405, email wcp@blackpoolcab.org.uk, or visit them at 6–10 Whitegate Drive, FY3 9AQ. For help to stop smoking and access free nicotine replacement therapy, call 0808 1964324.

We must keep fighting for better health outcomes in Blackpool. But the fight doesn’t just start in the hospital. It starts in our homes, our communities and with brilliant organisations like Citizens Advice leading the way.