Research by the Health Foundation shows Blackpool suffers from the lowest life expectancy from birth among both men and women. For example, while the average national life expectancy sits at 79 for men, in the Bloomfield Ward in Blackpool this is twelve years earlier – at just 67. According to government figures, Blackpool has eight out of ten of the most deprived neighbourhoods in England.
Commenting on the statistics on Sky News today (Friday 3rd March) Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, says that traditionally people with ailments tend to move to coastal areas and therefore that is where health solutions should be targeted. Health inequalities mean people are not living as long in England’s coastal towns. Issues like addiction, mouldy housing stock, poverty and deprivation put extreme pressure on hospitals, doctors and medics.
With plans to increase the pension age to 68, a Bloomfield resident said, ‘We are going to end up working until we die.’ This echoes the views of other residents who believe they won’t live long enough to receive their state pension.
One Response
I think there should be an equal investment in coastal area’s as there are in cities such as London, Manchester etc. Why do coastal towns/cities seem to be left to rot? Because government members don’t actually live there? People should be able to look forward to retirement after a lifetime of working hard, not hope they will live that long! Sometimes I think only the wealthy seem to matter but it’s the working class that build, look after and keep society going. The world wouldn’t be without the working class.