Difficult decisions will need to be made in NHS if we don’t look at lifestyle choices

People are living longer, child poverty is increasing and we all need to reflect on our lifestyles to prevent putting a strain on resources.

Those are some of the grim conclusions from an in-depth report into the health of Lanarkshire’s population.

And it also warns that “tough and potentially unpopular decisions” are required regarding the provision of services and medicines.

A population time bomb is primed to go off across Lanarkshire – as the number of people aged over 75 is set to rocket over the next two decades.

Life expectancy is continuing to increase dramatically over the region according to NHS Lanarkshire, placing a “great strain” on resources.

In 20 years, it is projected that there will be 35,600 more people aged over 75 – a rise of 71 per cent.

The figures are contained in the annual report of the interim director of public health, Gabe Docherty, who said: “People are living longer which is fantastic. However, many are living with a range of long-term conditions which is placing great strain on our health and social care services.

“In these times of increasing demand and of fewer resources, we all need to look at how we use services.”

The report, which has just been published, covers 2016-2017 and gives an overview of the health status of Lanarkshire’s population.

It says that child poverty is increasing and can have a “long-lasting and detrimental impact” on children’s health, attainment and future life chances.

And the report reveals a stark health divide across Lanarkshire.

The latest data shows that 20.9 per cent of children in North Lanarkshire were in low-income families (15,060 children).

That is “statistically significantly worse” than the Scottish average of 18.4 per cent.

In South Lanarkshire however, 18.1 per cent of children were in low-income families (11,435 children). A further health divide is also exposed across the county, with life expectancy higher in South Lanarkshire than in North Lanarkshire.

Men in the north can expect to live for 75.3 years, while the figure for the south is 77. Women in the north are likely to live for 79.6 years while the figure for the south is 80.8.

However, life expectancy is still below national levels.

People in Lanarkshire live on average a year less than others in Scotland (men one year less and women 0.9 years).

Compared to the UK as a whole, men in Lanarkshire die three years earlier and women 2.6 years earlier.

Looking ahead, the report says changing demographics and rising demand are part of the increasing pressures faced by the NHS.

Decisions are challenging as the current financial climate is “unprecedented”.

Outcomes, cost effectiveness and opportunity costs must be taken into account during the decision-making process regarding the provision of services and medicines in Lanarkshire and this “will require tough and