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Life expectancy gap of 11 years poses
challenge to health chiefs
Report shows income and employment are key to the age
at which we die
HEALTH bosses are gearing up to slash the staggering life expectancy gap within the borough, one of the biggest in the country.
Westminster Primary Care Trust director of public health Dr Margaret Guy revealed the shocking 10-year chasm in the latest annual public health report.
The PCT is working with Westminster Council to tackle the inequality which means people born in Lancaster Gate live to an average age of 83 while those born in the Churchill ward in Pimlico live on average to just 73.
Dr Guy said: “There continues to be a large gap in life expectancy between the electoral wards with the highest and lowest life expectancies – a gap of nearly 11 years for men and over nine years for women – although this gap has narrowed by nearly five years since 1999.”
The report shows that the differences in life expectancy mirror the pattern of deprivation across the borough, with household income and employment the main factors.
The PCT said: “In one part of the Queen’s Park ward, all children are living in income-deprived families, the highest proportion in the country. Ninety-nine per cent of children in part of the Church Street ward are living in income deprived families.” Deaths from heart disease, stroke, lung disease and cancer account for over three quarters of the life-expectancy gap.
Dr Guy added: “Evidence shows the best way to cut these health inequalities in the short term is to improve the care of people with cardiovascular disease and to improve the care of people at increased risk of cardiovascular disease by improving the management of cardiovascular risk factors – particularly smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes. Tackling the wider determinants of health inequalities, such as low income, unemployment and poor housing, is also essential if we are to have a sustained impact on reducing health inequalities in the longer term.” |
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