Health Foundation responds to ONS data on life expectancy by national deprivation

Responding to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data on life expectancy by national deprivation deciles (England and Wales: 2015 to 2017), Tim Elwell-Sutton, Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Health Foundation, commented:

'Data released today by the ONS shows a staggering level of variation in the years of life you can expect to live in good health in England and Wales depending on your social and economic circumstances. Worryingly, the statistics show that people born in the most deprived areas of England are expected to have over 18 fewer years of life in good health than those born in the least deprived areas.

'The gap in life expectancy between women living in the most and least deprived areas has also widened, falling for women in the most deprived areas and continuing to rise for those in the least deprived areas.

'The government has committed to ensuring that people can enjoy at least five extra healthy, independent years of life by 2035, while narrowing the gap between the experience of the richest and poorest. Today’s data shows we are not yet on course to achieve this.

'To reduce these stark inequalities, cross-government action and investment is needed on the wider determinants that influence our health. This includes access to adequate money and resources, affordable healthy food, well-designed transport systems, and good quality housing, work and education.

'The forthcoming Prevention Green Paper and Spending Review present clear opportunities for the government to take action on these issues.'

Media contact

Grace Everest
Grace.Everest@health.org.uk
020 7257 8068