Quarter of city is in 'deprivation'
MORE than a quarter of Plymouth's population live in
deprivation, according to figures published today.
The city's health is “significantly worse” than England's
average in 18 out of 31 categories, a new Government-funded
report reveals.
These categories include deprivation, child poverty, violent
crime, drug misuse, alcohol-related hospital stays, smoking in
pregnancy and mental health problems.
The Health Profile 2008 shows 70,792 Plymouth people live in
the 20 per cent most deprived areas of England. That is 28.8
per cent of the city's population, compared to the England
average of 19.9 per cent.
The report states: “The health of people in Plymouth is
currently worse than the England average on a number of
indicators.
“There are health inequalities by location, gender,
deprivation and ethnicity.
“Men living in the most deprived areas have, on average,
more than five years shorter life expectancy than those in the
least deprived.”
However, it also states that, overall, health in Plymouth
continues to improve year on year, and there is much work going
on by agencies across the city to improve the situation.
“Partnership work is targeted at communities with the
greatest health need,” it says.
The figures show that while early deaths from heart disease,
strokes and cancer in Plymouth are higher than the national
average, they have fallen from last year.
Early deaths from heart disease and stroke are 92.2 per
100,000 population under the age of 75, compared to 101.5 last
year.
Also, early deaths from cancer have fallen from 130.7 per
100,000 last year, to 124.1 this year.
And the number of obese children is lower than the national
average – 8.6 per cent of children in reception year, compared
to 9.9 per cent.
Alison Mackenzie, consultant in public health for Plymouth
Primary Care Trust, said that while more still needs to be
done, city agencies were working hard to tackle the
inequalities.
She said: “In Plymouth, in partnership with the city council
and voluntary and community groups, we have been targeting our
resources to ensure that health inequalities are tackled.
“The results of this hard work are beginning to be seen. We
are pleased that the health profile shows the year-on-year
improvements in the health of the people of Plymouth
continue.
“In particular it is good to see that the numbers of people
dying from cancer and circulatory diseases continues to
fall.
“However, there is much more to do, and we will continue
working with people to support them to ensure that everybody in
Plymouth has the best possible chance of living a long and
healthy life.”
Local Health Profiles, published for areas across the
country today, show considerable health inequalities in the
South West.
The NHS in the region has pledged to reverse the trend in
childhood obesity in the South West and match the highest life
expectancy in Europe by 2013.
Dr Gabriel Scally, regional director of public health, said:
“The health and welfare of children and young people has
important implications for the future health of the whole
population, and health inequalities at this age can have
lasting effects throughout life and into other generations.
“Also, we shouldn't forget that a healthy life begins in
pregnancy. Not smoking during pregnancy and initiating
breastfeeding can have strong positive influences on the health
of a child.
“The NHS in South West is committed to reducing health
inequalities, and is part of the national Pacesetters
programme, which is a national drive to help ensure equal
access for all.”
The Health Profiles, produced for the Department of Health
by the Association of Public Health Observatories, can be
viewed
"http://www.apho.org.uk/resource/view.aspx?RID=52465">here
16 Comments
View all
by Spycatcher, Plymouth
Tuesday, June 24 2008, 9:21PM
“Molly. OK Babe. Latin VG, Maths - not so good.”
by me, plymouth
Tuesday, June 24 2008, 8:14PM
“molly,sutton?!! Whats happened to Kelly,Barbican? I used to enjoy her comments!! Mind you i dont take part much anymore since this new look website,i for one think its awful!! Does anyone else agree?!”
by Julie, Plymstock
Tuesday, June 24 2008, 8:08PM
“If this city encouraged more industry with better road, rail and air links of which the latter is a disgrace, then there would be the potential for better paid jobs. Depravity breeds depravity as employers will only pay what they can get away with. Governments encourage this by paying employers to train workers in low paid work. One of the largest employers are the buses in this city. Without good work this to will die.”
by Andy, Plympton
Tuesday, June 24 2008, 7:35PM
“There will be more 'deprived' if the council pushes ahead with its proposed 100% increases in commercial property rents.”
by Brian, Efford
Tuesday, June 24 2008, 6:27PM
“I do not smoke I do not drink booze I| do not gamble apart form a lottery ticket now and again but when you mention you come from Efford well that`s bad news to some people”
by Molly, Sutton
Tuesday, June 24 2008, 5:11PM
“Spycatcher - mea maxima culpa.”
by get a job and do some exercise, plymouth
Tuesday, June 24 2008, 4:53PM
“Health can be linked to exercise therefore if more people in Plymouth get out of their houses and do a job the problems we are seeing may be reduced. If you walk through any area in Plymouth in the day you will see plenty of people who are 'unfit for work' or should that be renamed to 'unwilling to work'. Stop feeling sorry for yourself Plymouth and do something about it.”
by Suzannah, Stoke
Tuesday, June 24 2008, 3:42PM
“Ian, I totally agree. To start with, the city needs to attract manufacturers and large businesses that will employ thousands. Looking on the bright side, Derriford Hospital is fast becoming the country¿s number one hospital with the South West Cardiothoracic Centre, the Peninsula Medical School and the Dental School. As an optimist, I feel that things can only get better for Plymouth, we just need some major employers to relocate to the region.”
by Ian, plymouth
Tuesday, June 24 2008, 3:08PM
“Decades of mismanagement and incompetance have turned this city into the shadow of its former self. A series of councils that do not even have the foresight to look after their own listed building let alone the social and economic needs of a City. It is little wonder that in a bankrupted city with very little industry left there are so many - deprived people. Councillours and MPs seem to be obscessed in providing extravagant luxury waterfront apartments to up country rich whilst the rest of the cities residents live in run down council estates. With the rebuilding of Plymouth after WWII it had the potential to be so much more than it has become now - no real industry, ghost of a dockyard and not much prospect any thanks to Globalisation - something that this country has failed to understand the impact of. We have become a country of buyers, not producers little wonder why we have to pay £1.18p a litre for petrol today. At least someone has a good job producing useless reports.”
by Spycatcher, Plymouth
Tuesday, June 24 2008, 2:26PM
“Molly. Twenty decades equates to 200 years I think.”