A depressing statistic.

 It’s not a surprise to discover that if you live in a relatively prosperous part of the country - then you live longer in good health. If you are unlucky to live in Blackpool - then the dice is against you living into old age. According to research by the Health Foundation we in Britain are dying earlier, than other comparable countries. In Norway and Spain, life expectancy is increasing. The Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE) index, suggests in Blackpool - for a man 51 years and the same for a woman. However should you be fortunate to live in the smart rich area of Richmond, in the south east of England - then you get the jackpot for men it’s 69 and 70 for women. Almost a twenty year difference. It should be noted that HLE is an important indicator of the general quality of health. And needless to say factors like: poor housing, obesity and bad diet, lack of regular exercise and walking, smoking, drinking too much, illegal drugs use, mental health, occupation and employment, family size are all contributing to bad outcomes. In addition there is another important causal factor and that is our DNA. We all have predispositions, that are carried in our genes. These can also play an important role in any outcomes. Another indicator is education and whether you have done well or not? Back in 2009 a book was published The Spirit Level, came to the very same conclusions. It was written by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett. These are two well known and highly respected social epidemiologists from the universities of Nottingham and York respectively. When I was a student at the London School of Economics, in the early 1970’s - health economist was my favourite topic of study, so I’ve had an interest in the subject for years. How depressing that as a nation we are going backwards.