Mortality rate gap widens between north and south

Emily Cole

15 May 2008

RESIDENTS in the north of the borough can expect to live up to ten years less than those in the south - and the gap is growing.
That is the stark truth according to a new health report released this week.
The shocking figures from the Solihull NHS Care Trust Director of Public Health Annual Report highlight discrepancies between the north and the south of the borough in terms of life expectancy with residents in Chelmsley Wood likely to live almost a decade less than those in the St Alphege ward.
And the bad news doesn't stop there.
Although the overall mortality rate for Solihull is falling each year, those wards with the highest rates have not experienced any consistent improvement in the last ten years.
The report also estimates that health inequality will have increased between the north and south substantially by 2010, with wards in the north of the borough experiencing more deaths from circulatory diseases, cancer and respiratory diseases.
Additionally, the average percentage of obese patients on GP practice lists is higher in the north (11.8 per cent) than in the south (8.2 per cent) and there are more hospital admissions in the north for cases involving alcohol abuse.
Dr Stephen Munday, Joint Director of Public Health, said that social and economic factors, such as employment and housing, and residents' lifestyles affect the gap in life expectancy.
He added that the likelihood of developing cancer was increased by smoking, a habit 25 per cent of people in Solihull admit to and one which is embraced by as many as 40 per cent in some wards.
"The general picture is one of good health in Solihull and health is generally improving, but we have some concerns as not every community enjoys health to the same extent.
"Our challenge now is to ensure our healthier population stays healthy and that we give extra support those people who are at greatest need."
In response to the figures Solihull NHS Care Trust has outlined a series of proposals designed to reduce inequalities across the borough.
Initiatives include Stop Smoking Services and cardiovascular disease primary prevention in north Solihull which will include advice on diet, exercise and treatment of high blood pressure.
Health Trainer Services will also be launched to give people from the community support and give advice to hard to reach and unmotivated members of disadvantaged communities.
Dr Munday added: "Health Trainers are people who understand local health issues and can help those at risk of poor health adopt healthier lifestyles, whether by giving general advice or more extensive forms of support."
Other issues the report seeks to tackle include rising numbers of teenage pregnancies, lower than average numbers of mothers breast feeding and poor levels of sexual health.

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