"Life expectancy lottery" unacceptable, Lib Dems claim
Scotland's “life expectancy lottery” has been branded unacceptable as new figures showed baby boys born in the country's largest city could live over seven years less than those born in a neighbouring authority.
Scotland's “life expectancy lottery” has been branded unacceptable as new figures showed baby boys born in the country's largest city could live over seven years less than those born in a neighbouring authority.
Data from the National Records of Scotland showed males born in Glasgow between 2013 and 2015 could expect to live to the age of 73.4 - below the Scottish average for men of 77.1.
Meanwhile, boys born in the neighbouring East Dunbartonshire authority can expect to live to 80.5, giving the area the highest male life expectancy in Scotland.
East Dunbartonshire also had the highest female life expectancy, with girls born between 2013 and 2015 expected to reach 83.5 years.
Life expectancy for girls was lowest in the West Dunbartonshire local authority area, with this calculated to be be 78.7, with an average across Scotland of 81.1.
Compared to England, which has the highest life expectancy in the UK, baby boys born in Scotland can expect to live two years less while for girls the total is 1.7 years lower than south of the border.
Tim Ellis, chief executive of National Records of Scotland and Registrar General for Scotland, said: “This report shows that while life expectancy continues to improve, there is still wide variation across Scotland.
“The report also shows that the gap between life expectancy for men and for women is continuing to narrow.
“Life expectancy for men is highest in East Dunbartonshire and lowest in Glasgow City, while for women it is highest in East Dunbartonshire and lowest in West Dunbartonshire.”
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “Although there has been some improvement in the length Scots are living, there is no end in sight for the postcode-based life expectancy lottery.
It is simply unacceptable in this day and age that a child born in Glasgow can expect to live seven years less than one born just a short hike away in East Dunbartonshire.
“That is why we need to tackle head-on the persistent inequalities that are cutting lives short.
“The Scottish Government could start by adding to the resources available to GPs in our most deprived areas and investing in education, giving people the chance to get on in life.”