Rochdale one of the worst areas in England for premature deaths

People living in deprived parts of the UK are more likely to die prematurely, and Rochdale is the 17th worst area across the whole of England.

According to official figures analysed by the BBC, Rochdale was also one of the worst areas for premature death in both men and women in the north west (seventh) and in Greater Manchester (third).

The rate of avoidable deaths was considerably higher for men than women both nationally and locally, deaths under age 74 from causes that are considered avoidable in the presence of “timely and effective healthcare” or “public health interventions”.

Across England as a whole, the rate of avoidable deaths was 218 per 100,000 people, a figure which rose to 317 per 100,000 locally.

The concept of avoidable mortality, according to the ONS, was first introduced in the 1970s when it was argued that in order to develop effective healthcare a list of diseases which should not give rise to death should be drawn up.

Included in the list are deaths from health conditions deemed preventable or treatable such as heart disease, some cancers, respiratory diseases and type 2 diabetes - where lifestyle and environment may have contributed - and those that could have been prevented such as HIV/AIDS, accidental and self-inflicted injuries, rubella and various infections and drug use disorders.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “These figures are a stark reminder of the huge health inequalities that exist between the north and south of England. It is scandalous that in 2018 people’s life chances are still determined by the postcode of the bed they were born in.

“In Greater Manchester, we’ve taken charge of health and social care to help ensure everyone can have the best start in life, live well and age well. Our bold and ambitious plans are already helping thousands of people quit smoking, get more physically active and live a healthier lifestyle.

“This year we became the first city-region in the world committed to the Daily Mile. We recently announced a £160m investment in cycling and walking infrastructure. And we are taking an unprecedented level of action to reduce smoking rates at a pace and scale faster than any other major global city.

“We cannot do it alone. Government cuts to public health budgets have forced our councils to make difficult decisions about which services to prioritise. If this country is serious about tackling health inequality then Government must recognise that it cannot go on slashing local authority budgets in areas like Greater Manchester.”