THE borough's rate of "bed-blocking" has improved and the number of smokers has reduced for the fourth year in a row, according to a new health report.

A performance overview tabled for the town hall’s health and social care scrutiny committee has included both figures as highlights for 2017/18.

However, councillors will be warned of risks in the sector such as the challenges posed to services from the borough’s ageing population.

The Healthier Wigan Partnership – a collaboration between the authority with NHS and other borough services – has seen a reduction in delayed transfers of care from hospital, the report says.

Against a backdrop of so-called "bed-blocking" becoming "a national issue", the rate of delayed discharges is down to 4.5 days per 100,000 population from 6.3 days in 2016/17.

In addition to this, smoking prevalence rates have fallen for the fourth successive year, with most recent figures recording 15.6 per cent of adults now smoke, down from 17.7 the previous year.

Wigan’s rate is also the third lowest within Greater Manchester, the report – compiled by adult social care director, Stuart Cowley, and assistant director – transformation, Kathryn Rees, reads.

Service bosses have highlighted though that the health and social care system will face increasing pressure in the coming years, a large part of this attributable to the borough’s ageing population.

“The number of people in Wigan aged 75 and over is projected to increase by 30 per cent by 2023,” the report adds.

“This means that a growing number of people will begin to transition from working life to retirement and future demand on health and care services.

“In the last few years we have seen the number of people with long term care needs supported by the council begin to increase as our population gets older.

“The council will need to carefully manage the financial pressures this increasing demand will bring as well as continue to identify innovative solutions for provision.”

The council’s health and social care scrutiny committee will meet tomorrow, Monday.