But instead of simply cutting waiting times the NHS in Warwickshire will be turning its attention to cycle lanes and bringing services to GP surgeries and closer to people's homes.

Warwickshire Primary Care Trust, which runs GP surgeries and funds hospital care, believes that by working with schools, companies and social services it can help prevent sickness rather than treating people after they have fallen ill.

At a meeting of patient groups, doctors, voluntary groups and councillors on Tuesday chief executive David Rose outlined how the trust intends to spend its money until 2012.

He said: "We want Warwickshire people to hold us to account each time we make a decision as to whether we are providing support for them."

The commissioning strategy plans how the organisation directs its resources over five years - and Mr Rose said there were clear priorities.

The trust estimates that obesity leads to 9,000 early deaths each year in the county, and reduces life expectancy by nine years.

Mr Rose said housing, job prospects and education are also known to affect a person's health.

He added that over the past five years mortality rates had fallen five times as quickly in areas like Warwick as in deprived areas in the north of the county, and money would be directed towards reducing this inequality.

The trust will spend £1,400 on every individual in the county per year. Mr Rose said this would be spent in seven key areas. One target is to reduce cases of the hospital-acquired infection clostridium difficile by 40 per cent, after the public identified this as a priority during consultations.

Others include improving access to services and measuring its progress by how close they are to people's homes, helping people become responsible for their health by encouraging exercise, and helping patients remain independent rather than staying in hospitals and care homes.

Mr Rose added: "Our aim is to get sick patients better quicker and to keep healthy people fitter for longer."