Scots living a year longer but rest of UK pulls ahead

SCOTLAND'S life-expectancy rates are improving, but at a slower speed than the rest of the UK, figures released by the Office of National Statistics have revealed.

Men in Scotland can now expect to live to 75.4 years while women can expect to reach 80.1 years. This compares to the UK figure of 77.9 for males and 82 for females.

East Dunbartonshire has the highest life-expectancy rates in Scotland for both men and women at 78.3 and 83.1 respectively.

Meanwhile, Glasgow City has the lowest for men and women at 71.1 years and 77.5 years respectively. Scottish Borders equals Glasgow City's rate for men at 71.1 years.

The life expectancy figures for Scotland for 2007-9 show an increase of 1.2 years for males and of 0.9 for females since 2003-5. The UK rate meanwhile, showed a higher improvement rate of 2.4 and 1.9 years respectively for the same time-scale.

While decades of public health campaigns have helped improve the health of the nation, not everyone is sharing the benefits.

The health areas with the lowest life expectancies at birth and at age 65 during the years monitored were Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the Western Isles, Hartlepool, Liverpool and Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust.

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Last night, Patricia Ferguson, Labour MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, called for cross-party action to tackle what she described as Scotland's "slow-moving" life expectancy rates.

She said: "Obviously the positive factor here is that life- expectancy rates in Scotland are improving. But there is no room for complacency and this should act a wake-up call to politicians of all parties.

"There are numerous research reports dating back to the 1970s at least, clearly linking poverty to life expectancy and the ability to lead a fulfilling life

"We need to work together to sustain communities being hit by the cuts imposed by the Westminster government.In practical terms, this translates into identifying the worst-hit areas and ensuring that projects such as early intervention schemes where health visitors go in and help families who are struggling, are able to continue with their work."

Ms Ferguson added that community exercise projects, such as the Northern Soles walking club for older people in her constituency, should be encouraged.

Ms Ferguson's call was echoed by Age Scotland, which said poverty had a direct effect on the health of older people.

Doug Anthoney, communications and campaigns officer for Age Scotland, said the "eating or heating" dilemma faced by many elderly people each winter impacted on health and wellbeing.

"Whilst older Scots increasingly enjoy a fulfilling later life, poverty still affects far too many.

"One in ten older people is materially deprived and almost two thirds of single pensioners are fuel poor. Energy and food price inflation hits older people more than other age groups, as they typically spend a greater portion of their income on these and are less likely to carry mortgage debt and benefit from low interest rates."

Ben McKendrick, senior policy and public affairs manager for British Heart Foundation Scotland, said: "It's clear we need to step up our efforts to tackle the health inequalities that pervade in Scotland, and BHF Scotland is doing our bit through our groundbreaking Hearty Lives programme, which seeks to focus our activities in those parts of the country where they are needed most,

"Now we need concerted and determined action from the UK and Scottish Governments to ensure health inequalities of this kind are tackled once and for all."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman, said: "Health in Scotland is improving but not quickly enough and unacceptable inequalities continue to blight the lives of our most deprived communities.

"The removal of health inequalities will not be achieved overnight but we have already taken significant action to address alcohol consumption, prevent people from smoking, encourage active living and healthy eating and promote positive mental health.

"In addition Equally Well, the report of the ministerial task force on health inequalities, has already shifted the emphasis of our approach from dealing with the consequences of health inequalities to tackling the underlying causes such as poverty, employment, support for families and improving physical and social environments.

"Nobody should be condemned to a life of ill health because of where they live or their family's background. Poor health is not inevitable and we should not accept it."