Rochdale has one of the lowest disability-free life expectancy rates in the country

Rochdale has one of the lowest disability-free life expectancy rates in the country, new figures from the Centre for Ageing Better suggest.

A man born in Rochdale is set to live almost seven years less than one born in Westminster, with a life expectancy of 77 years, whilst women born in Rochdale are expected to live six years less (81) than women born in Camden.

Of the ten areas where life expectancy is highest, six are in London and three are in the South East.

Ageing Better looked at three factors: life expectancy, healthy life expectancy (which estimates the number of years a person will spend in ‘very good’ or ’good’ general health), and disability-free life expectancy, which estimates the number of years spent without a long-lasting physical or mental condition that limits a person's daily activities.

For healthy life expectancy, a measure of how long people spend in ‘good’ or ‘very good’ health, the gaps are even wider, with men born in Richmond-upon-Thames set to enjoy almost 10 more years of good health than those born in Rochdale, and women born in Wokingham enjoying 12 more years of good health than Rochdale women.

The gaps are almost as wide for disability-free life expectancy, which estimates the number of years spent without a long-lasting physical or mental condition that limits a person’s daily activities.

Men and women born in Rochdale can only expect to live to around their late 50s before developing such a condition, compared to 69 for those born in Wandsworth and Waltham Forest, the latest of anyone in the country. Locally, for men this is 57.9 years of age, and just 56.7 years for women.

The figures also show that the majority of babies born today could be on track for a retirement spent in ill-health and disability.

In only two local areas across England can both men and women born today expect to reach 68 – the age at which they are currently set to draw their state pension – without a disability. In only six places can both boys and girls expect to reach that age in good health. If, as expected, the state pension age rises, the numbers could drop further.

Councillor Sara Rowbotham, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The evidence points to a serious injustice and a ‘rich vs poor divide’ where the more affluent survive, whilst people in our town are left to suffer and have their lives cut short.

“The research is clear: poorer people in Rochdale are dying from preventable diseases and a greater investment in health and social care would reverse this trend.

“Instead we are facing more cuts, severely limiting our ability to support our residents to live happy, healthy lives.

“Our residents have seen an increase in the number of years that they might expect to live. However, the underlying burden of ill health in our borough is high.

“Our key goal is therefore to support our residents to stay in good health for as long as possible.”

Later this month the government is set to publish its response to the consultation on its prevention green paper, setting out what action it intends to take. Ahead of its publication, the Centre for Ageing Better is calling for the government to recommit to make good on its promise to ‘level up’ and reduce the gap in disability-free life expectancy between the richest and poorest.

Anna Dixon, Chief Executive, Centre for Ageing Better, said: “Most of us are set to live many years longer than our parents or grandparents – and these extra years are a wonderful gift. But the opportunity of longer lives isn’t being shared equally, especially when it comes to how healthily we spend our later lives.

“These figures show that nowhere outside London and the South East can both boys and girls born today expect to reach their state pension age without a disability. We will be letting down today’s children if we fail to improve their prospects for a healthy later life.

“The deep inequalities this data reveals are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. The government must recommit to the goal of closing the gap in disability-free life expectancy between the richest and poorest by 2035, and take the action needed to make good on that commitment.

“This doesn’t just require more funding for health services but investment in improved housing, better quality work and communities, as well as further regulation on tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy foods.”

The Centre for Ageing Better examined ONS data on life expectancy, healthy life expectancy and disability-free life expectancy for more than 150 local areas in England. Disability-free life expectancy is an estimate of the number of years lived without a long-lasting physical or mental health condition that limits daily activities.