New study provided more evidence of England’s north/south divide
Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent.(Image: STOKE SENTINEL)
Residents in a Midlands city are among the least healthy in England, new analysis has shown.
Stoke-on-Trent was near the bottom of the list in terms of how long people can expect to live in good health.
The Staffordshire city was recently named among the 20 most deprived parts of England.
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And this means locals are more likely to have unhealthy lifestyles, contributing to health issues earlier in life than the national average.
This also makes them more likely to become unwell younger, and die earlier.
Women in Stoke have the fifth lowest healthy living expectancy.
This is the age they are expected to live to in good health before things go downhill.
This age for women in Stoke is 53.5, according to analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
This compares to 70.3 in Richmond upon Thames in London, one of the most prosperous parts of the country.
Sandwell in the Black Country, one of the most deprived parts of England, is even worse off than Stoke.
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Women in Sandwell can expect to live in good health up to 51.3 years old, while for men the figure is 52.7.
Nationally, the number of years people can expect to live in good health continues to fall.
It has dropped from 61.9 for women and 61.5 for men in 2021 to 2023 to 61.3 for women and 60.9 for men in 2022 to 2024 – and experts said north/south inequalities remain.
The five lowest healthy life expectancies were all in the north or Midlands, while at the other end of the scale the five best were in and around London.
Dr Jamie O’Halloran, senior research fellow at IPPR, said: “Figures show that where you live determines how many years you spend in good health – and that gap isn’t closing.
“Reforming the NHS and bringing care closer to communities can help reduce health inequalities, but most of what shapes our physical and mental health lies outside the health system.
“Without tackling those root causes, we won’t see the gains we need.”