We’re still dying of inequality
Oct 23 2007 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
HEALTH chiefs in the region are today facing up to an “incredible task” after a report showed the true extent of the North-South divide.
A Government study showed that while the UK overall was enjoying longer life expectancy and lower cancer mortality, the North still suffered poorer health than the South “in almost all cases”.
The Health Profile of England 2007 described “a consistent North-South divide”, with the North-East having some of the worst health standards in the country.
The report outlines how the proportion of men in the North-East who assess their health as “not good” is approaching double that in the South-East, while the region has the highest number of binge-drinking adults, more deaths from smoking and the UK’s worst record for early cancer deaths.
Life expectancy in the North is the worst in England, with women living two years less than those in the South, and men two-and-a-half years less than their southern counterparts.
Earlier this month, the NHS North-East revealed ambitious plans to make the region the UK’s healthiest within a generation. Assistant regional director of public health Dr Eugene Milne last night said the report highlighted why it was important the strategy succeeds.
He said: “In a sense this is old news to us, as this is data we are already acting on in the Better Health, Fairer Health strategy. We know that a lot of these indicators are improving faster in this region than nationally, but we also know there is still a lot to improve on because we are starting from a worse position.
“We are conscious that we are behind other regions, but if you look at the long-term trends, we will be doing much better over the next 20 years.”
Dr Milne said health authorities in the North-East had been dealing with more drink-related problems in recent years, and called for a change in the way alcohol is used. “We know that in this region alcohol is a growing problem. I see a lot of death certificates and I think people would be amazed at the amount who have died under the age of 50 or 55 from drink-related conditions.”
He said many of the report’s findings were based on data two or three years old and more recent information showed continued improvements.
Blyth MP and Health Select Committee member Ronnie Campbell said the report showed how far the region had to go.
He said: “Yes, there is a big task in front of us, but we’ve made good progress and we are getting better. It is vital that the health authorities recognise this and do nothing which would jeopardise this. I know there is some talk of spending cuts and we have to make sure we do not risk making things worse.”
