According to Professor Sir Chis Whitty, chief medical officer of England, UK cities are “full of opportunities and challenges” for health, with high levels of deprivation and health inequalities. They also have some of the unhealthiest environment.
Whitty’s Annual Report for the end of the year focused on the health of cities and highlighted the challenges of unhealthy food choices, the increase in fast food outlets and air pollution, as well as low-quality housing.
He said that “These factors continue driving health inequalities. The least deprived live in good health much longer than those who are most deprived.”
In cities, rates of sexually transmitted diseases and vaccinations are higher and the screening and vaccination rates remain lower. The report argues that the healthcare system must be flexible in order to support individuals better and increase vaccination and screening rates.
The report called for greater action on obesity, air pollution, food and the environment as well as healthcare planning and delivery.
It was recommended that “maintaining good physical health for as long as possible can be difficult in cities, and should be viewed as a priority.”
It added that “action to remove barriers and maintain health for older people living in cities could include age-friendly housing and practical access to places to maintain physical activity and social involvement for those with predictable sensory and mobility impairments of older age.”
Whitty stated that “cities offer great opportunities to live a healthier lifestyle, but many people, particularly in deprivation areas, do not have access to healthy foods, are unable to exercise, and are subjected to air pollution.”
the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest that the average healthy life expectancy in England and Wales will be lower than it was in 2017-2019. The north east region of England has the lowest healthy living expectancy for men and women.
Anna Gazzillo is a senior analyst at The Health Foundation. She responded: “This decline reflects, at least partially, the impact of pandemics on life expectancy. It follows ten years in which improvements in healthy living expectancy stagnated.”
She added that “the ongoing inequalities” between regions make it difficult for the new government’s promise to halve the gap between the richest and poorest areas in England in terms of healthy life expectancy.
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