DRUGS to treat high cholesterol, excess acidity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes were among the top ten most dished out to patients at the borough's biggest GP practice.

A data investigation by the Stourbridge News has revealed Atorvastatin, a type of statin, was the number one most dispensed drug at Stourbridge's Lion Health centre, off Lowndes Road, during August.

Lansoprazole, which is used to treat and prevent stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as damage to the oesophagus from stomach acid and other conditions involving excessive stomach acid such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, was the second and third most dispensed drug during the same month.

Salbutamol - which relieves symptoms of asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - was also in the top five.

Drugs to treat angina and heart disease, overactive thyroid, depression and to control blood sugar levels to help those with type 2 diabetes also featured in the top ten.

Most of the drugs listed above are used to treat so-called lifestyle diseases and in a statement Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group and Lion Health, which has more than 24,000 patients on its books, confirmed "the most commonly prescribed drugs in recent months are associated with illnesses like heart disease, COPD, high cholesterol and diabetes".

A spokesman for Dudley CCG and the GP surgery added: "This is typical for many of our practices in Dudley. It is clear that lifestyle can impact on a person’s health."

Dr Steve Mann, GP at Lion Health and clinical executive at Dudley CCG, added: “Healthcare professionals take into account the benefits and risks of all medications and discuss these with the patient before making a decision on the best treatment for the individual."

Dudley CCG bosses say they aim to identify people at risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, COPD, high cholesterol and diabetes early and a spokesman for the CCG added: "Prevention is key and in primary care GPs work with those patients identified as being at risk to encourage and support them to make proactive positive behaviour and lifestyle changes.

"We also work closely with our colleagues in Public Health at Dudley Council to support the NHS Health Checks Programme for eligible individuals in Dudley through general practice.

"This programme provides targeted lifestyle interventions such as increasing physical activity, smoking cessation advice, weight management, dietary advice and brief alcohol advice. All of these modifiable risk factors can help patients reduce their risks of cardiovascular diseases as well as contributing to the reduction in risk of new onset type 2 diabetes."

Councillor Cathryn Bayton, Dudley Council's new cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said the authority's Let’s Get Healthy Service "was supporting people to make healthy lifestyle changes through wellness coaching, group activities, drop-in sessions, a wellbeing app and telephone support" and she added: "GPs can signpost patients to the service and we commission GP practices to undertake NHS Health Checks for people aged 40 to 74 to identify those most likely to benefit from it.”

Cllr Bayton said the council's Healthy Hubs and park activities were having "a significant positive impact on people's physical and mental health" but she stressed conditions such as heart disease, breathing problems and type 2 diabetes should not solely be referred to as "lifestyle diseases" - adding: "Lifestyle suggests a level of choice and control which is not always possible.

"Many people in the older generation worked in heavy industry, in an environment that was not as well regulated by health and safety standards as they are today, so I would expect there to be a disproportionate number of older people diagnosed with COPD.

"We also know people in the most disadvantaged areas and who participate in more unqualified roles are likely to do less structured exercise and will have less disposable income to support this - and we know poor housing can add to conditions such as asthma and mental health issues."

Anyone wishing to find out more about Dudley's Let's Get Healthy Service can call 01384 732402 or email letsget.healthydudley@nhs.net. People do not need to be referred by their GP.

Painkillers aspirin and paracetamol also made it into the top ten most dispensed drugs at Lion Health in August, despite Dudley CCG bosses saying prescriptions for medications that are readily available in pharmacies such as paracetamol would stop from August 2017 as part of efforts to save cash.

A spokesman for the CCG, however, explained: "The Dudley CCG Prescribing policy aims to encourage people to self-care and to purchase medicines available over the counter for those conditions that are an acute or short term illness.

"For long term conditions like for example heart disease or strokes that require aspirin daily; these were never proposed to be removed off prescription. Where patients are clinically required to take a regular dose of paracetamol for conditions such as chronic pain or osteoarthritis, these are also acceptable to be prescribed by GPs."

She said for a chronic long-term condition "the amount of paracetamol required per calendar month would not be available through non-prescription routes" and added: "Also prescribing and management by the GP enables the patient to be managed safely ensuring knowledge of medicine use and supply and monitoring to be conducted as clinically appropriate."