Huge health inequalities exist between different areas of Trafford, figures have revealed.
The number of deaths from cancer, levels of diabetes and obesity rates are much higher in the North and West areas of the borough than the South and East.
The annual report from Trafford’s public health team has focused on health inequalities this year and has revealed the extent of the postcode lottery across the borough.
The report said: “Trafford is arranged into five Primary Care Networks (PCNs). Across the five networks the levels of deprivation vary with the North and West more deprived than Sale Central, South or Altrincham Health
Alliance.
“People who live in the most deprived areas tend to have a lower healthy life expectancy than those living in the least deprived areas, with those in the most deprived areas more at risk of certain health conditions. These inequalities are largely preventable.”
The different rate of cancer deaths across the borough is a particularly stark demonstration of the health inequalities Trafford faces.
The report said: “People in the most deprived wards are more likely to die from cancer than those in the least deprived wards. For example, Timperley, which is the least deprived ward has a Standardised Mortality Ratio (SMR) of 78.8, whereas Gorse Hill has an SMR of 143.0, almost double the risk.”
The wards with the highest cancer death rates are Gorse Hill in the North of the borough, Bucklow-St-Martins in the West, Stretford in the North and Longford in the North.
All of these areas have cancer death rates that are considerably higher than the national average.
On the other hand, some of the more affluent areas of the borough have cancer death rates considerably below the national average, and they’re all in the South of the borough.
Bowdon, Hale Barns, Timperley and Broadheath have the lowest cancer death rates in the borough.
Diabetes rates in the borough are also different between the north and the south.
According to the public health report, the highest diabetes rates are seen in North Trafford Primary Care Network and the lowest are in the South Trafford Primary Care Network.
The report stated that obesity rates are also closely linked to the rate of cancer deaths and diabetes across the borough.
Levels of poverty and deprivation across the borough were pinpointed as the reason behind these health inequalities.
Director for Public Health Eleanor Roaf and acting Director of Public Health Helen Gollins, concluded the report and said: “In this report, we have focused on the damage that inequality causes to our society and have identified some actions that we can take to reduce this. To be effective, we will all need to work together differently.
“We need to develop more trust between public sector bodies and our residents, and we also need to have more honest conversations about the changes to lifestyles and behaviours that will be required if we are to meet clean air and carbon reduction requirements, as well as to address inequalities and improve outcomes for all.
“Many of these changes will be positive for people, some may be challenging, but the simple truth is that we cannot afford to go on as we are. By acting now, we can take control of our destiny and enable the people of Trafford to adapt and grow to meet these challenges and flourish in the future.”
