Babies born in wealthy areas like London live 12 years longer than in Glasgow, a new study reveals, and those in Hampstead live to be 88 years old.
- Fifteen of the 20 areas with the highest life expectancy are in London and the South East
- Meanwhile, 17 of the 20 with the lowest life expectancy are in Scotland
- The staggering regional disparities found were described as ‘entirely preventable’
A stunning new report has found that babies born in the wealthiest parts of the UK are likely to live 12 years longer than those in Glasgow.
Children in north London’s exclusive Hampstead can expect to live to the ripe age of 88, while those born in Glasgow have a significantly lower life expectancy of 76.
The Health Equals campaign group analyzed the ONS findings to calculate the life expectancy of all babies born this year in the 650 parliamentary constituencies spread across the country.
The times reports that ‘stunning’ disparities were found between regions, with experts warning that millions of lives were being cut short for ‘more than a decade’ due to substandard housing, poor education and poverty.
There was a strikingly stark contrast between London and the South versus Scotland.
Children in exclusive north London Hampstead (pictured) can expect to live to the ripe old age of 88.
Babies born in Glasgow are likely to live 12 years less than those in wealthier regions of London.
In fact, 15 of the 20 constituencies with the highest life expectancy are in London and the South East, while 17 of the 20 with the lowest life expectancy are in Scotland.
Glasgow’s seven constituencies filled in the seven worst places for babies to be born.
In England, again the south is where babies are likely to live the longest, and the most deprived areas are in the north, highlighting the need for a leveling agenda to improve health.
The report found that regional disparities were “entirely preventable” and were getting worse.
Blackpool South has the lowest life expectancy in England at 78, followed by 79 at Bradford West.
The gap between the richest and poorest areas of the UK has increased by two years over the past two decades.
Health Equals, a group of 29 organizations led by the Health Foundation think tank, is urging the government to implement new strategies in a bid to reverse these health inequalities.
The coalition of organizations insists that a baby’s place of birth may be detrimental to its future health, more than “individual behaviors and genetics.”
Health Equals, whose campaign is backed by the British Red Cross, wants government officials to prioritize green spaces, transport links and adequate housing.
Carrie Hume, Director of Health Equals, said: “Our members are diverse but deliver the same message: the size of the UK life expectancy gap is entirely preventable, but not enough attention is paid to how our interactions shape to our health”. with the world around us.
“We call on politicians to take action, doing more to understand what shapes our health and creating plans to improve our chances for good health.”
Meanwhile, John Godfrey, director of leveling up at financial services provider Legal & General, said people are spending more time with health problems despite the fact that the UK is one of the richest countries in the world.
He added: “It is damaging society, our economy and causing unnecessarily disrupted lives across the UK.”
Blackpool South has the lowest life expectancy in England at 78, followed by 79 at Bradford West.
