Blackpool is among a swathe of northern areas with the lowest life expectancy in England, a new report has revealed.
A damning analysis by health think-tank The King’s Fund found men in the seaside town can expect to live for just 73.7 years on average – almost a decade less than those living in Hart, Hampshire, the area with the highest life expectancy.
Women in Blackpool fare little better, with a life expectancy of just 79.1 years – significantly below the national average and the lowest anywhere in England.
The report has exposed a stark North-South divide, highlighted by its finding that Londoners on average live for around three years longer than those in the North East.
While life expectancy has reached record highs nationally – with men expected to live to around 80 and women to almost 84 in England – the gains were largely seen in the South.
And in what has been described as ‘a mark of shame’, the report claims northern areas have seen little improvement.
Among the lowest, Blackpool is joined by Kingston upon Hull and Middlesbrough, where men are only expected to live until 75.5 years. Manchester follows just behind with 75.6 years, while in Lincoln the average is 75.9 years.
The Daily Mail’s tables show the regions with the highest and lowest life expectancy, according to the report.
Blackpool is among a swathe of northern areas with the lowest life expectancy in England, a new report has revealed
| Authority | Life expectancy for men | Life expectancy for women |
|---|---|---|
| Blackpool | 73.7 | 79.1 |
| Middlesbrough | 75.5 | 80.5 |
| Kingston upon Hull | 75.5 | 80.4 |
| Manchester | 75.6 | 80.1 |
| Lincoln | 75.9 | 81.0 |
| Burnley | 76.1 | 80.3 |
| Liverpool | 76.1 | 80.3 |
| Nottingham | 76.4 | 80.8 |
| Blackburn with Darwen | 76.5 | 80.4 |
| Hastings | 76.6 | 81.6 |
Women in Blackpool are expected to live longer than men, reaching a life expectancy of 79.1, but this is still around eight years fewer than women in Hart and Kensington and Chelsea, where female life expectancy is among the highest in England.
Veena Raleigh, senior fellow at The King’s Fund, said: ‘That people in our northern and deprived communities have seen little or no improvement in longevity over a decade, in contrast to the health gains in their southern and more well-off counterparts, is a mark of shame for an affluent country.
‘Addressing this inequity in the nation’s health is not just a matter of social justice, it would reduce pressures on the NHS and the high economic costs of ill health.’
Blackpool’s position is perhaps unsurprising given a series of recent reports – separate to The King’s Fund’s analysis – highlighting the town’s poor health.
One, published last May, revealed that Blackpool was the ‘takeaway capital’ of the North West, boasting 25 fast-food shops per 10,000 people.
Another report uncovered that Blackpool had four times the average number of drug deaths, and nearly double the rate of smoking deaths.
It was also found to have the highest rates of alcohol-related deaths and serious mental health conditions in England.
Locations like Liverpool and Burnley, which have higher levels of deprivation, also featured among the lowest life expectancies in the King’s Fund’s analysis.
This was in stark contrast to wealthy places in the South, such as Kensington and Chelsea – a hotspot for the rich and famous – where women live at an average of 87.1 years.
The report found people in the North East were more likely to be overweight or obese, have high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes than Londoners.
| Authority | Life expectancy for men | Life expectancy for women |
|---|---|---|
| Elmbridge | 82.4 | 86.0 |
| Waverley | 82.4 | 85.9 |
| South Cambridgeshire | 82.5 | 85.4 |
| Wealden | 82.5 | 85.0 |
| Surrey Heath | 82.5 | 85.1 |
| Barnet | 82.5 | 85.9 |
| Richmond upon Thames | 82.7 | 86.8 |
| Wokingham | 82.8 | 85.8 |
| Uttlesford | 82.8 | 86.4 |
| Hart | 83.7 | 86.2 |
They were also more likely to die prematurely from cancer and heart disease, while rates of suicide, drug deaths and alcohol-related deaths were also higher.
Overall, healthy life expectancy – the number of years a person can expect to live in good health – fell by around two-and-a-half years in England.
However, people in affluent areas lived on average for six to seven years longer in good health than those in the most deprived regions.
Life expectancy as a whole in Britain was found to be the lowest of all comparable high-income countries, other than Germany and the US.
The report argues that London’s strong economy, higher wages and better job opportunities have helped people live longer and healthier lives.
By contrast, they say many northern communities are still living with the effects of industrial decline, having spent decades dealing with the fallout of factory and industry closures.
They claim this has led to higher levels of poverty, unemployment and poorer living conditions, which have contributed to worse health and shorter lives.
Ms Raleigh added: ‘Improving population health and reducing entrenched health inequalities have never been more urgent and yet also more challenging, given the economic constraints facing the country.
‘It will require concerted, bold, cross-governmental action to reduce largely preventable illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes associated with poor diet, drinking and smoking, and tackle the wider determinants driving persistent poor health, especially among northern and deprived communities.
‘One of the three “radical shifts” in the Government’s ten-year health plan is from sickness to prevention.
‘One year on, and the modest moves on this front fall well short of the bold action needed to improve public health, reduce inequalities and increase people’s lives and the years they spend in good health.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: ‘Someone’s postcode should never dictate how long they live, and this government is determined to tackle the stark inequalities that still exist across Britain.
‘We’re already taking action, from allocating GP funding more fairly to delivering pioneering neighbourhood health centres in the areas that need them most.
‘But we will now go further in devolving power to local communities, putting decision-making into the hands of those who know their areas best, and driving lasting change across the country.’
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