Stoke-on-Trent Residents Among Least Healthy in England, Study Reveals
Residents of a Midlands city have been identified as some of the least healthy people in England, according to a new analysis. Stoke-on-Trent ranks near the bottom of the list for how long individuals can expect to live in good health, underscoring significant regional disparities.
Deprivation and Health Outcomes
The Staffordshire city was recently named among the 20 most deprived areas in England. This deprivation correlates strongly with unhealthy lifestyles, leading residents to experience health issues earlier in life compared to the national average. Consequently, they are more likely to become unwell at a younger age and die earlier.
Women in Stoke-on-Trent have the fifth lowest healthy life expectancy in the country. This metric indicates the age up to which they are expected to live in good health before health declines. For women in Stoke, this age is 53.5 years, based on analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
Stark Regional Contrasts
In contrast, women in Richmond upon Thames in London, one of England's most prosperous areas, have a healthy life expectancy of 70.3 years. Sandwell in the Black Country, another highly deprived region, fares even worse than Stoke. Women in Sandwell can expect only 51.3 years of healthy life, while men have 52.7 years.
Nationally, healthy life expectancy is declining. It has dropped from 61.9 years for women and 61.5 years for men in 2021-2023 to 61.3 years for women and 60.9 years for men in 2022-2024. Experts emphasize that north/south inequalities persist, with the five lowest healthy life expectancies all in the north or Midlands, and the five highest concentrated in and around London.
Expert Insights and Calls for Action
Dr. Jamie O’Halloran, senior research fellow at IPPR, commented: "Figures show that where you live determines how many years you spend in good health - and that gap isn't closing. Reforming the NHS and bringing care closer to communities can help reduce health inequalities, but most of what shapes our physical and mental health lies outside the health system. Without tackling those root causes, we won't see the gains we need."
This study provides further evidence of England's entrenched north/south divide, highlighting how socioeconomic factors deeply impact public health outcomes across different regions.
