Life expectancy of UK’s poorest women falls for first time in 100 years

The overall life expectancy in the UK has dramatically slowed since 2010, with important socio-economic and gender divides that leave the poorest women with a lower life expectancy, whilst the most well-off people expected to live 0.5% longer than in 2010.

This is the damning report from Sir Michael Marmot which tracks the health equity between rich and poor in the UK.

It also outlined a North South divide as the North East saw the largest decrease in life expectancy and affluent areas of London showing the largest increase.

This is the first time in over 100 years that life expectancy in the UK has shortened and Professor Marmot makes a relation between life expectancy and society claiming “If health has stopped improving, that means society has stopped improving and if health inequalities continue and in fact increase, that means inequalities in society have been increasing”.

He also estimates that health inequality costs the state 82billion pounds a year and called on the government to reduce child poverty and insecure low-paid jobs.

He added: “Austerity has taken a significant toll on equity and health and it is likely to continue to do so … if you ask me if that is the reason for the worsening health picture, I’d say it is highly likely that is responsible for the life expectancy flatlining, people’s health deteriorating and the widening of health inequalities.”

You can read the full report here http://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/resources-reports/fair-society-healthy-lives-the-marmot-review

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