Greater Manchester people still dying younger than those in south
Alice McKeegan
October 20, 2011
The gap is widening between the life expectancy of people in Manchester and the richest part of London, the M.E.N. can reveal.
Boys born in Manchester are now expected to live for 74.1 years – 11 less than those in wealthy Kensington and Chelsea, according to figures for the years 2008-2010. Billions of pounds have been spent to tackle deprivation but statistics show the divide is worsening.
For 2007-2009, the gap between Kensington and Chelsea and Manchester was 10.4 years – and it was just 3.4 when Labour came to power in 1997.
Men in Manchester can now expect to live shorter lives than those born anywhere else except the Outer Hebrides, Dundee, Renfrewshire, West Dumbartonshire, Inverclyde and Glasgow in Scotland and Blackpool in Lancashire.
Salford (74.8 years), Oldham and Tameside (both 75.7) are also in the bottom 30 of 404 local authority areas, with Kensington and Chelsea (85.1) and Westminster (83.8) at the top.
The life expectancy gap for women in Manchester, compared to richer parts of London, has also soared – from 9.9 years in 2007-09 to 10.7 years now.
Girls born in Manchester can expect to live 79.1 years, compared to 89.8 years in Kensington and Chelsea. In 1997, the gap was just 4.5 years. The Office for National Statistics figures show life expectancy is improving in most places, including every local authority in Greater Manchester, except Tameside where it stayed the same.
David Regan, director of public health for NHS Manchester, said: “The reduction of health inequalities will not be achieved overnight but we have already taken significant action and are working hard to help people stop smoking, address alcohol consumption, as well as encourage active living and healthy eating and promote positive mental health.”
Tony Lloyd MP for Manchester Central said: “The real worry is if present plans to fragment the health service go ahead, the more demanding Kensington and Chelsea will see their pressure bring more resources and we will see a wider health gap.”
For a more detailed chart view of the life expectancy gap of people in the Manchester area and the richest parts of London visit MENMEDIA website:-
Copy By: Alice McKeegan of the Manchester Evening News