Health gap between rich and poor grows

THE health gap between rich and poor in the Lothians is continuing to grow, a report has shown.

The Scottish Government's annual analysis of health inequalities showed little signs of improvement.

In Edinburgh, people in poorer areas such as Niddrie can expect to live up to 25 years less than their counterparts in places such as Morningside and Cramond.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said a number of initiatives were ongoing to address the problem. She said: "This report shows health inequalities are a significant challenge in Scotland, with the poorest in our society dying earlier and experiencing higher rates of disease.

"This is a long-term problem, it cannot be solved overnight, and it will take generations to see a change but we are committed to tackling this. We believe that the only way to deal with health inequalities effectively is to address the underlying causes."