Calls to tackle health disparity

MORE needs to be done to tackle the inequality that leads to people living shorter and less healthy lives in poorer parts of Wales, a report says.

Public Health Wales says men in the most affluent areas of Wales are living nine years longer and spending 19 more years of their lives in good health than those in the most disadvantaged areas.

For women, there is a seven-year gap in life expectancy and an 18-year difference in healthy life expectancy between the most and least disadvantaged areas.

The Measuring Inequalities 2016 report recommends that small changes in key behaviours such as smoking and obesity could lead to reduced inequality.

According to the report, life expectancy and healthy life expectancy figures have increased slightly from those published in the original Measuring Inequalities profile in 2011.

Across Wales, life expectancy increased from 77 years in 2005-09 to 78.3 for 2010-14. Healthy life expectancy also rose from 63.5 to 65.3 over the same period.

Dr Chrissie Pickin, executive director of health and wellbeing said: “While it is encouraging that people are living longer and spending longer in good health, the figures for life expectancy and healthy life expectancy highlight the need for a fresh approach to tackling health inequalities.”

The report highlights that there is up to an 11-year gap in male life expectancy between the least and most deprived areas within some local authorities.

In response, a Welsh Government spokesman said: “This government, through the Future Generations Act, has placed a more equal Wales as a goal of all public services and action to tackle inequalities is built into a range of Government commitments, including employment programmes, quality housing, and access to childcare.”