Health chiefs in north Essex are looking at ways to help local residents live longer – adding two years to men’s life expectancy and three years to women's lives.

By 2014, NHS North East Essex is aiming to ensure male residents live, on average, to be 81 and women to be 84.

The trust, which covers Colchester and Tendring, has unveiled a five-year health plan, which involves reducing smoking, alcohol consumption and obesity.

But the trust is facing an extra challenge – achieving its life expectancy targets, while slashing millions from its budget.

Dr Mike Gogarty, director of public health and health policy, announced the plans at the organisation’s board meeting.

He said: “We need to improve services which prevent and manage long-term-conditions including heart disease, strokes, diabetes, respiratory disease and dementia.”

One of the hardest problems the trust faces is increasing the life expectancy of people in the most deprived parts of the area to match that of the better-off areas.

Average life expectancy for men in north Essex is currently about 78, and about 82 for women.

However, in some of the most deprived areas, such as Pier and Golf Green wards, in Clacton, residents live eight years less than those in affluent wards.

Dr Gogarty said changing the lifestyles of people in deprived areas was the only way to improve their health.

He explained: “The best way to do this is to improve education and attainment. We have health teams who work in the community to tackle this.

“In the very short term, for people who are at risk of heart disease, we have nurses who go in the community where people at risk are likely to be.”

Health workers were now knocking on people’s doors and even visiting bingo clubs to offer health advice.

* The plan is being implemented at a time when the primary care trust aims to make tough budget cuts – saving £8.5million in the next financial year alone.

Dr Gogarty said savings would be achieved through the making the most of available resources.