Wed 1 Aug 2018, 09:40 AM | Posted by editor
LETTER from Mark Langabeer, Newton Abbot CLP, personal capacity
A Panorama special, entitled, Get Rich or die Young examines health inequality in the UK. The reporter, Richard Bilton visits Stockton, the town with the country’s worst health inequality.
The life expectancy in the poorest district of Stockton is 64, 18 years less than their wealthiest neighbours. Bilton reports that it’s the same life expectancy as Ethiopia.
Although the causes of premature death are complex, the single most important factor is low income. Bilton interviewed a guy who, only aged 46, was suffering from a terminal illness. He attributed his condition to smoking and poor diet. He took up taxi driving for a living and only ate at fast food joints.
He interviewed a local doctor, who expected people to have chronic illness in their 60s, not in their 40s. He stated that early illness was often preventable. The wealthiest in Stockton can expect a healthy life until 70, but In the centre of town, it is only 50.
Another important factor for early death is drug addiction. Stockton has seen the rate of deaths double in the past 10 years. An undertaker explained that premature death had consequences beyond the initial grief. She cited the example of a partner having to give up work to look after children.
Mental health problems are another contributory reason for premature death. Bilton interviews a lady who suffers from depression and her local support centre had closed as a result of budget cuts. Suicide is twice as likely in the poorest districts.
Bilton reports that health inequality is growing and effects millions of people in Britain today. In my view, it is why we need a general election at the earliest opportunity and elect Labour to end this injustice.
