HEALTH inequalities in Darlington mean some people's lives are cut short by up to nine years depending where they live, a conference has been told.

The town and the North-East also saw more people dying younger than in many other parts of the country.

The director of public health for Darlington Primary Care Trust, Dr Nonnie Crawford, was speaking at the Choosing Health consultation event, in Darlington's Dolphin Centre.

She said there would never be enough resources to meet need when it came to treating illness, and a shift in thinking was required.

"It has to be about improving health as well as treating sickness," she said.

Dr Crawford said there had been major health service investment in the past five years and inroads made in areas identified as public priorities.

"But now we need to tackle health inequalities. Living nine years less because you were born in a certain ward is not acceptable in 2004," she said.

"We are very slowly changing that fact, but we need to do much more. The North-East and Darlington has an awful lot to gain from a successful health improvement programme.

She said all the town's institutions needed to be involved and public input was essential.

The event was hosted by Darlington Partnership, Darlington Primary Care Trust and Darlington Borough Council as part of a detailed study of how to keep the town's 102,000 population fit and healthy.

Under consideration were key health and social issues, such as accidents, drug and alcohol misuse, diet and obesity, exercise, mental and sexual health, and smoking.

The event's findings and comments from the public will be fed back to the Government through the local strategic partnership.

Chief executive of the Darlington Partnership, Steve Rose, said: "This is a chance for the public to choose how health services are delivered at a local and wider level. I think it is a great idea and shows we are trying to do our best for the people of Darlington."

The consultation runs until Friday, when public views will be incorporated into a White Paper on the issue to be published in summer to help shape Government policy.

Barry Keel, Darlington council's chief executive, said: "Health is important to all of us and it's great to see so many people involved in having their say."