Nationally, the general health of the population is improving, that of the better off is improving at a faster rate. The less well off have shorter life expectancy and more illness than those who are doing well materially and socially. Health should not be determined by where someone is born, where they live and their income. Everyone should have a fair chance of living a long and healthy life so tackling health inequalities is essential to creating a fairer society.
Health inequalities are determined by a wide range of social and economic factors. However, some health inequalities result from underlying factors including ethnicity, disability and gender which are wider than socio-economic, geographical or environmental factors.
- Newcastle is ranked 37th of 354 Local Authorities for multiple deprivation (where 1st is the most deprived)
- Newcastle has 53 Super Output Areas (out of 173) in the most deprived 10% of Super Output Areas in the Country, a figure that is three times as many as would otherwise be expected.
- Traditionally deprived areas include Benwell, Scotswood, Elswick, Byker, South Heaton, Walker and Walkergate wards
- There are also other pockets of deprivation within the City which fall into the 10% most deprived super output areas in England. These include the southern half of Westgate, and the southern tip of Newburn, in addition to small sectors of Blakelaw, Denton, Fenham, Kenton and Woolsington.
- Elswick has the highest rate of unemployment claimants at 15.3% and parts of North Gosforth have the lowest rate with 1.9% - compared to the 5.8% across the city as a whole and the national figure of 3.0%
- 21% of the city's residents are amongst the 5% most deprived in England; 31% are amongst the 10% most deprived
- 28% of dependent children aged under 16 living in Newcastle live in an income deprived family. This ranges from 1% in North Gosforth to 99% in parts of Cowgate and Benwell.
This section explains the situation in Newcastle and what action is required to reduce health inequalities.