Express & Star

Black Country life expectancy among lowest in UK

People in parts of the Black Country have among the lowest life expectancy in England, new figures have revealed.

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And though residents can expect to live between two and three years longer than they would have 15 years ago, many areas' national ranking has plummeted.

This is compared to people who live in Staffordshire, who not only have a higher life expectancy than people in the Black Country, but whose areas are also in the top half of the national rankings.

The life expectancy for men and women is below the national average for every area in the Black Country.

Men's life expectancy in Sandwell is 77, two and a half years below the England average, and 332nd out of 345 areas across the country. Their rank used to be 327.

Women in Sandwell can expect to live to 81 years old, but this is still a lowly 322nd out of 345 in the UK.

Men and women in Wolverhampton don't fare much better as, despite life expectancies of 78 and 82 respectively, they are ranked 316th and 303rd in the national rankings.

Wolverhampton councillor Elias Mattu, the cabinet member for adults, said: "This is something that has to be dealt with and brought in line with the national average. "The life expectancy in Wolverhampton is a postcode lottery as some areas are much better than others.

"Wolverhampton is lacking behind because we have known about this problem for years but there has been no improvement.

"The picture for the future is looking rather bleak because the government's austerity cuts aren't helping the problem. Cuts will effect the life expectancy figures.

"It has already started happening as the NHS is on the decline and this is only going to make the life expectancy situation worse not better.

"The council is looking at various factors around this such as getting more jobs into the city but these things are going to take time.

"The situation won't get better until the government gets a grip across the country.

"I am really really concerned."

In Walsall, women are predicted to live on average four years longer than men with a life expectancy of 82 compared to 78. This ranks them 296th and 254th in the national rankings. 10 years ago the life expectancies in the town were 80 and 75 respectively.

Walsall councillor Ian Robertson, the cabinet member for health, said: "The issue in Walsall is the disparity between areas. You will find there is, in some cases, a 10 year life expectancy difference from one part to another part.

"In Walsall there tends to be an East/West divide. Bloxwich, Palfrey and Darlaston, that corridor tends to drag the average down while areas such as Aldridge and Streetly bring the average up.

"From a public health point of view this is an area that we're trying to address. It's very important that one targets the disadvantaged areas to try and preserve the support they receive."

Dudley and Wyre Forest are the two areas that fare best in the Black Country for life expectancy, although they both still fall below the national averages of 79.5 and 83.2. Men in Dudley and Wyre Forest can expect to live to 79, while women in the two areas can expect to live to 83.

Cannock fares as bad as some areas of the Black Country, with a below average life expectancy of 79 for men and 83 for women.

However the rest of South Staffordshire and Stafford fare much better. Men in south Staffs are expected to live to 80.5, while men in Stafford to 80. This ranks them 115th and 142nd respectively.

Women are predicted to live to 83 in South Staffordshire and 84 in Stafford. Ranking 170th and 151st respectively.

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