A new analysis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) has found that life expectancy at birth in the parliamentary constituencies of Manchester Rusholme, Manchester Central, and Gorton and Denton are among the lowest in the UK, and rank in the lowest 10% of all UK constituency areas.
The Health Foundation analysis found that in Manchester Rusholme (ranked 19/650) the life expectancy at birth is 77.2 years, which is 7.4 years shorter than the healthiest parts in the UK, and evidence shows that these health inequalities are getting worse.
Health Equals, a coalition of 27 organisations across different sectors including Mind, the British Red Cross, Citizens Advice, Shelter, Crisis, People’s Health Trust and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation is calling on the Government
to prioritise the essential building blocks of health – from homes that are warm and safe, to stable jobs, clean air, neighbourhoods with green space, and social connections.
Local MP for Manchester Rusholme, Afzal Khan, has recently joined
Health Equals’ Parliamentary Champions Network and committed to campaign alongside Health Equals to reduce the life expectancy gap.
The cross-party Champions Network is working to ensure that actions on the
building blocks of health are front and centre in national policymaking so that people in Manchester can live longer, healthier lives.
Afzal Khan, MP for Manchester Rusholme, said:
“How long you live shouldn’t depend on where you live but unfortunately this is all too often the case. I’m shocked, but not surprised, to hear that the life expectancy in Manchester Rusholme is amongst the lowest in the UK. Lower income, poor quality housing, and high levels of air pollution lead to this inequality. But it doesn’t have to be this way, which is why I’ve committed to narrowing this gap and to champion the campaign to make health equal in Parliament.”
Paul McDonald, Chief Campaigns Officer at Health Equals commented:
“For the first time we can compare life expectancy at a constituency level across the UK, showing MPs and voters the alarming scale of health inequalities. Our health is shaped by the world around us –
from the money in our pockets, to quality homes that are warm and safe, stable jobs and neighbourhoods with green space and clean air.
Yet, these essential building blocks are not accessible to everyone. We are calling for a cross-government action plan, so everyone has the best chance of good health, no matter who they are or where they are born, work and live.”
