Bolton public health report reveals gap in life expectancies

Bolton’s Public Annual Health report which has just been published, reported that there was more than a 14-year gap in life expectancy between men in better and worse off parts of Bolton and an 11-year gap between women in different areas.

Bolton’s director of public health Lynn Donkin said: “In this year’s report we look at some important examples of how communities and organisations in the borough are working together on projects to support wellbeing and good health across Bolton. 

“We can see from the statistics that Bolton’s residents suffer worse health than average, and in recent years health on average, measured by life expectancy, has got worse.  

The report was presented to Bolton Council (Image: Newsquest)

“The report highlights the importance of considering the factors and conditions that are already there within communities that can help promote good health and sustain wellbeing, alongside the existing support and health services provided for those experiencing poor health.”  

The report said that according to the latest figures from 2020-22 men in the central Bolton area can expect to live to be just over 70 years old.

This was compared to just over 85 in Dunscar and Egerton area, which is on average far better off.

It added that women can expect to live for an average of 75.6 years in the Farnworth North area compared to 87 and a half in Lostock and Ladybridge, again far wealthier on average. 

The report said: “Life expectancy is an important indicator of overall population health, and inequalities in health.

“Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a baby born in a particular area can be expected to live if they experienced that area and time’s age-specific death rates over the rest of their life.”

It added: “We are seeing life expectancy reducing and inequalities in health widening between Bolton and the country on average.

“From the early 2000s there was a general upward trend and increase in life expectancy. Around 2013 this increase slowed and plateaued.

“Since 2017 we have seen life expectancy declining in Bolton, and the decline has been larger than that seen regionally or nationally.”

In response, the council has been recommended to take a range of measures including building in partnerships to tackle poverty and providing support for food and fuel bills.

Council cabinet member for adult services, health and wellbeing Cllr Sean Fielding said: “I welcome this year’s public health annual report which showcases the best of Bolton.

“It's great to read, in one place, how many local community groups and projects have stepped in to improve and safeguard public health, supplementing the capacity of more formal services.

“However, the report doesn't shy away from the challenges that we face, especially in our life expectancy and healthy life expectancy.

“I support the report’s recommendations to build upon the successes we've had in working with our communities so that we can realise further positive impacts on public health here in Bolton.”

Cllr Fielding presented the public health report alongside Ms Donkin at a Bolton Council cabinet meeting last week.

He argued that there had been "massive cuts in public health funding over the past 14 years."

Cllr Fielding said: "And we struggle to provide the kind of preventative service that we really need to stop people getting into such difficulties that they become very expensive to deal with when they need acute service."

He said that public health would likely be worse in Bolton without its strong networks of community groups and projects that supported people in some of the borough's most deprived areas. 

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But opposition leader Cllr Martyn Cox questioned the council’s approach which he said drew a “direct parallel” between life expectancy and spending on health.

Addressing the cabinet meeting, he argued that evidence showed that this was “just not the case.”

Cllr Cox said: “Assuming you are a wealthy country, you are in the West, Italy, Spain and Malta spend about 25 per cent less on healthcare and yet they have significantly higher life expectancy rates.

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“Germany spends considerably more than we do on healthcare and yet their life expectancy rate is almost identical to the UK.

“So the idea that you spend more money on healthcare and therefore you improve your life expectancy is not demonstratively the case.”

Cllr Cox said that there were many different factors determining life expectancy, including medical care and healthcare.

He said: "Medical care is what a doctor can do for you, healthcare is if you then follow that advice.

"So I do think its way more complicated than the political comments that were made."

The cabinet decided that the contents and recommendations of the public health report be noted