Men in 10 areas of England and Wales can expect fewer than 50 years of good health, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data, which estimates years spent in "very good" or "good" general health based on how individuals perceive their health, reveals stark regional gaps.
Lowest healthy life expectancy areas
The Central Stockton & Portrack area of Stockton-on-Tees has the lowest healthy life expectancy in the country, with men born there expecting just 47.7 years of good health. In Birkenhead Central, Wirral, the average is 47.8 years; in Central Blackpool it is 47.9 years; and in Grimsby East Marsh & Port, North East Lincolnshire, it is 48.0 years.
North East Lincolnshire is also the only place in the country where women have a healthy life expectancy of less than 50 years, at 49.0 years. Eight of the 10 areas where men have fewer than 50 years of good health are in the North, which is also home to half of the 1,400 neighbourhoods where healthy life expectancy is below 60 years.
Highest healthy life expectancy areas
At the other end of the scale, people in the Knightsbridge, Belgravia & Hyde Park area of London enjoy the longest healthy lives in England and Wales. The average healthy life expectancy for men there is 78.3 years and 81.2 years for women, the longest of any small area, according to the ONS.
Poverty as a key driver
A report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) found that poverty is the biggest driver of gaps in healthy life expectancy. A woman in the least deprived areas spends 82 per cent of her life in good health, dropping to 65 per cent in the most deprived areas—20 fewer years of healthy life. For men, the gap is 19 years: 85 per cent in the least deprived areas versus 70 per cent in the most deprived.
Scot Hunter, Analyst at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "It isn't right that where you live impacts how long you can expect to live in good health. It's striking but not surprising that people who spend more of their life in poor health are more likely to live in places that lost key industries: like manufacturing and mining towns as well as seaside towns and inner-city neighbourhoods."
He added: "We know that as well as struggling economically, many of these areas have lost the community groups, places and activities that brought people together. Compared to similar places that still have their community centres, youth clubs and sports halls, people in these doubly disadvantaged areas are more likely to be living in poor health. The story isn't just about the economies of these places, but whether there's someone or somewhere in your neighbourhood that helps you feel connected, confident and in control. We need to invest in this vital infrastructure if we want people in every place to live healthier, more resilient lives."
