Region’s healthy life expectancy below average

NEW data shows that people in Dumfries and Galloway on average, can expect to live just 58.9 years in good health.

This is well below the state pension age, and is just below the national average.

The Health Foundation has published an analysis, using data from the Office for National Statistics, revealing an average decline in Healthy Life Expectancy (HLE) in Scotland of three years over the past decade, dropping below 60 years for the first time since records began to 59.1 years for men and 59.4 years for women.

HLE is the average number of years a person would expect to live in good health based on current mortality rates and levels of self-reported good health, and is a key measure of the nation’s health.

The foundation is calling for a new approach to turn the tide on Scotland’s declining health.

Assistant director David Finch said: “The deterioration in Scotland’s health should be a watershed moment that acts as a wake up call to government and policy makers to tackle the nation’s ill health.

“Males and females living in Dumfries and Galloway can expect to live as little as just 58.8 and 59.1 years respectively in good health.

“Scottish males have the worst healthy life expectancy across the whole of the United Kingdom, and of the 21 high income nations, only the USA has a worse healthy life expectancy than the UK. This is an issue that needs urgent attention.”

In the last decade healthy life expectancy has fallen in all but one local authority area for females, and across 28 local authorities for males.

Mr Finch added: “Scotland’s failing health has repercussions for all of us, with most people now expected to spend a significant period of time in poor health before reaching state pension age.

“Not only does this carry a substantial human cost, but a growing economic and fiscal impact which reduces workforce participation and increases reliance on social security and benefits.

“Improving health must be a priority for the next Scottish Government.”