Life expectancy fall ‘unacceptable’
EXPERTS have demanded action on “stark and unacceptable” health inequalities as official statistics showed life expectancy falling in many parts of Scotland.
After decades of steady improvement, progress has stalled in almost all areas of Scotland according to official figures from National Records of Scotland (NRS).
Official statistics show life expectancy rose for both men and women between 2016 and 2018 in just three council areas – East Renfrewshire, Stirling and East Ayrshire.
It fell for both in nine local authorities: Aberdeen, Angus, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, North and South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and the Western Isles.
Experts were already aware that improvements in life expectancy were slowing down, as they have been in many several high-income countries. But the statistics show improvements in Scotland being reversed, with people in deprived areas faring worst.
Doctors’ leaders and public health experts blamed austerity policies, but said drug deaths and flu outbreaks were also suspected of contributing to the “complex” problem.
Because countries with a higher life expectancy than Scotland have continued to see improvements, it is not thought the slowdown in life expectancy is due to reaching or nearing a “natural limit” to lifespan.
The NRS said that life expectancy has either stopped increasing or has decreased in almost all council areas since 2012-2014.
Life expectancy for those born in 20162018 was 77.0 years for males and 81.1 years for females. But males in the most deprived areas of Scotland could expect to live for 13.1 fewer years than those in the least deprived areas, while the equivalent gap for females was 9.8 years.
Scotland continues to have the lowest life expectancy figures of the four UK nations – with females in England now having a life expectancy of 83.18 years, more than two years longer than in Scotland, while life expecta ncy for males is more than two years higher, at 79.56 years.
In Scotland, East Renfrewshire has the highest life expectancy of any council area in Scotland, with boys born there in 2016-2018 expected to live for 80.7 years, rising to 83.6 for females. In contrast, boys born in the neighbouring Glasgow City Council area over the same period have a life expectancy of 73.4 years, while for girls this is 78.7 years.
The number of years people live in good health is also significantly affected with men in the least deprived areas spending 23 extra years and women having 23.9 years extra in good health.
Paul Lowe, the chief executive of National Records of Scotland and Registrar General for Scotland, said:
“The new figures show that the stall in life expectancy growth which we have seen for Scotland as a whole is happening in almost all areas across Scotland. However, the rate of change varies amongst council areas with some slowing more than others and some showing falling life expectancy.”
Dr Nikki Thompson, deputy chair of Scottish Council at BMA Scotland, said: “These statistics leave us in absolutely no doubt that stark and unacceptable health inequalities persist across Scotland. It is 2019 and we should not tolerate a society where those in some areas of the country will spend an extra 23 years in poor health compared to those living in Scotland’s most affluent areas.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We’re focused on addressing the underlying causes that drive health inequalities, which has income inequality at its heart. The launch of Public Health Scotland next year will play an important role in support of our public health priorities.”
It is not thought the slowdown in life expectancy is due to reaching or nearing a ‘natural limit’ to lifespan