Call on government to fix 'scandalous' Liverpool life expectancy gap
Life expectancy in parts of Liverpool are among the lowest in the UK
A new campaign is calling on the government to tackle the 'scandalous' 15-year life expectancy gap between Liverpool and other parts of the UK.
In parts of the city, the life expectancy is just 75.
In comparison, the lowest life expectancy in parts of other local authorities in England are Manchester at 76, Sheffield at 78 and Cambridge at 82.
Health Equals - a coalition of 27 organisations including Mind, the British Red Cross, Citizens Advice Bureau, Shelter, Crisis, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and more – has launched the #MakeHealthEqual campaign - after research found that more than one in four children in the North West are living in poverty, while almost a third (31%) of people in the North West say they do not have enough money to live well, and air pollution in the North West is too high, breaching the World Health Organisation’s healthy levels.
Maggie, a single mum from Liverpool, said:
"I want to see less junk food available as I see the negative impact it has on my daughter and other young people.
"I want to see school food more nutritionally adequate and food lessons being taught in schools, to teach practical skills to young people. I think it is important that healthier food to be made the cheaper, easier and fairer option.
"In the past, I struggled to navigate the convoluted food environment, but what really helped me was nutritional knowledge and budgeting skills and I think this is vital that people are taught about this."
Nearly half (48%) of people in the North West said that they would like ‘more affordable, quality housing’, 39% selected ‘improving air quality and access to nature/green spaces’ and almost a third (30%) of people in the North West cited ‘low income’ as having the most negative impact on our health, according to research from Health Equals.
They're calling on the government to recognise the importance of the building blocks of health – stable jobs and pay, good quality and affordable homes, and neighbourhoods with green spaces and clean air – and make them a priority across government.
The coalition is calling for cross-government action on prevention, targets to be set, and for the Government to be held to account in tackling inequalities and reducing the gap in life expectancy across the UK.
Paul McDonald, Chief Campaigns Officer, Health Equals, said:
"It’s scandalous that babies born in parts of Liverpool could have their lives cut short by up to 15 years compared to other parts of the UK.
"Our health is shaped by the world around us – from the money in our pockets, to quality homes that are warm and safe, stable jobs and neighbourhoods with green space and clean air. But these essential building blocks of good health aren’t available to everyone. While individual choices and access to health care do impact our health, evidence shows these building blocks have a far stronger impact.
"Too many parts of the UK are at risk of being ‘left behind’ without policies that support these building blocks of health and wellbeing. It’s not right but we can change it. The time is now to call on the new Government to Make Health Equal."
The group has also launched a petition and are encouraging MPs to commit to tackling health inequalities.