Babies in wealthy areas expected to have up to 19 more years of good health than those in poorer ones

Inequalities in healthy life expectancy across the UK have been laid bare by new figures which show babies born in wealthy southern areas can expect to live up to 19 years longer than those born in poorer northern places.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that a girl born in Nottingham between 2016 and 2018 could expect as few as 54 years of good health, compared with 72 for a girl born in Wokingham.

Richmond-upon-Thames had the highest male healthy life expectancy at birth in the UK of 72 – 19 years longer than males in Blackpool, where it was only 53.

The ONS said the size of the life expectancy gain between 2013 and 2018 was “small by historical standards”, but in line with the observed pattern of stalling improvements since 2011. A decade ago, life expectancy was growing 6.5 times faster for males and 8.2 times faster for females.​

When compared with the time period between 2009 to 2011, healthy life expectancy increased by as much as 10 per cent in some areas, while dropping as sharply as 6 per cent in others.

Jo Bibby, director of health at the Health Foundation, said the new ONS statistics were a “stark reminder” that people cannot take the improvements we have come to expect in our health over the past century for granted.

She added: “Life expectancy improvements continue to be sluggish, but worryingly healthy life expectancy isn’t keeping pace. People can now expect to spend more of their life in poor health than at the turn of the decade.

“Whichever party takes office later this week will need to make the long term investments necessary for people to stay healthy in the first place. This will require a shift in the balance of spending towards services such as early years, youth and public health, as well as housing and social security, so that everyone is able to lead healthier lives.”

There were significant decreases in healthy life expectancy for boys in Stockton-on-Tees and Darlington, both falling by approximately 6 per cent. For girls the sharpest drop was seen in Croydon, at 9 per cent, while Hillingdon, Walsall, Nottingham and Southampton also saw notable falls.

Boys born in the London boroughs of Wandsworth and Islington had the highest improvement of six years, marking a 10 per cent increase for both areas. Of the eight local areas achieving a significant increase in healthy life expectancy for boys at birth, five were London boroughs.

For girls, the London borough of Southwark experienced the largest increase of 12 per cent, while Haringey increased by 11 per cent. Of the six local areas achieving a significant increase in healthy life expectancy for girls at birth, four were London boroughs

It comes after research by academics at the London School of Economics (LSE) revealed last month that life expectancy predictions in the UK had fallen to levels last seen 16 years ago, with widening social inequalities leading to a rise in avoidable deaths in disadvantaged communities.

The study, based on an analysis of mortality data, found that while people in wealthier areas of the country continued to live longer, life expectancy was stalling – or even reversing – for those living in the most deprived areas.

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