Greater Manchester has a shocking disparity in life expectancy, with children born in some areas predicted to live 10 years longer than in others, figures reveal.
In Longsight – an inner-city area with one of the lowest life expectancies in Manchester – John Hoover points to the line of take-out shops and bookies. “There are more takeaways than foodbanks, and more betting places than essential shops,” he says.
“In an area already struggling with deprivation these places act as a gateway to a downward lifestyle,” the long-time trader told the Manchester Evening News. “Longsight has needed to change for a very long time.”
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The new research from Health Equals revealed a five-year gap in South Manchester where the lowest life expectancy is in M13 (a calculated aggregate of both males and females) where people will live to be 77 years old on average. The M13 area includes Longsight, Ardwick, and Chorlton-on-Medlock and its average is five years less than the M21 area of Chorlton-Cum-Hardy and Barlow Moor.
It is also 13 years less than the highest average of 90 years and four years less than the national average of 81 years.
John doesn't find the data surprising in this postcode lottery. Having traded on Longsight Market for 49 years, he’s seen this corner of Manchester’s health and well-being decline.
“Every time a shop opens it turns into a takeout with deep fat fried food and that diet will contribute to statistics,” he said. “Quick food has become a trend.”
Barbara Burns, 62, said: “Takeaways are convenient, especially with fresh food and energy bills rising. A carry-out will work out for the same price – but they don’t have to cook. People don’t eat and live well in poverty-stricken areas.
“You can taste the grease in the air,” she added. “It’s a main contributor to heart disease and other health complications.”
John and Barbara are not alone in having noticed the influx of poor dietary contributions. Mrs Ahmed has lived in Longsight all her life and sells fresh produce at Longsight Market, she thinks there is a strong relationship between life expectancy, deprivation, and poverty.
“I think a massive factor is a poor diet,” she told the M.E.N. “This dietary life stems from people’s culture and economic circumstance in the area – and with rising costs of our living crisis it’s threatening to widen the health gap between the rich and poor even further.”
Health Equals found the overall lowest life expectancy in Manchester is in the BL78 and OL1 postcodes where people will live to 75 years on average. The BL78 area in Bolton South-East includes Farnworth and OL1 includes Oldham, Chadderton and Higginshaw.
Suraj Krishnan has lived in Longsight for three months having recently moved there and cites low income and general poverty as the reason.
“There are more people from lower economic backgrounds and low-level income,” the 28-year-old said. “People won’t have access to as many opportunities and population density is high here which leads to long queues in medical practices – and makes spreading illnesses easier."
The data from Health Equals shows that postcode areas in Northern and Scottish cities have far lower life expectancies than more affluent parts of the South and more rural Northern regions. The group’s campaign #LivesCutShort calls attention to regional gaps in life expectancy, highlighting the millions of lives being “needlessly” cut short in the UK because of where they live.
You can see how your local area compares using our interactive map. Simply type in your postcode and click search to zoom into your area.
In contrast, people living in M21 are expected to have a life expectancy of 82 years, which is five years higher than Longsight, and higher than the national average. The M21 area includes Chorlton-Cum-Hardy and Barlow Moor.
Liz Cole has lived in Chorlton since 1986 and watched the suburb's growth in sustainable lifestyle stores, organic delis, and independent bars and restaurants.
"You rarely need to commute into the city centre because there's everything here in walking distance," she added: "There are plenty of commodities and modish places to eat, drink, and socialise."
"I volunteer at Longford Park and we are surrounded by Chorlton Meadows, Chorlton Water Park, Turn Moss Playing Fields and Sale Water Park - we have the nickname 'Leafy Chorlton' for all the street trees surrounding resident's homes." the 65-year-old told the M.E.N.
Jamie Newall visited Chorlton from London, he said: "It's clear there's a high value for life here and money to afford contributory benefits to a healthy culture and lifestyle."
Babies born in the OL3 area have a life expectancy of 85 years, the highest average in Greater Manchester, according to Health Equals. The OL3 postcode covers Delph, Denshaw, Diggle, Dobcross, Greenfield and Uppermill.
BL7 – Belmont, Bromley Cross, Chapeltown, Egerton, Edgeworth, Dunscar and Turton area – and SK7 – Bramhall, Hazel Grove, and Woodford both have a life expectancy average of 84 years.
Johanna Edgerton, 36, and Ellie Wharfe, 33, visited Chorlton for a day out. Johanna said: "It's an affluent area where people may have more access to private healthcare.
"General society is more aware, and this area is focused on pressure in greenspaces and wellbeing - you have access to a variety of health shops and parks," she added: "I'm part of the Chorlton Runner's group and there's other activities to keep people outdoors, socialising, and going longer."
Ellie said: "The community here is prominent - there's other available accesses than only drinking culture. Neighbours sit on the front and when people have that stimulation of chatting, especially when elderly, it helps elongate your age."
Life expectancies have also been calculated at the parliamentary constituency level, with a 13-year gap between the best and worst-performing areas.
Blackpool South has the lowest value of any constituency in the UK at 75 years. That's followed by three other English constituencies at 76 years each - Leeds Central, Manchester Central, and Middlesbrough.
The cities of London and Westminster have the longest life expectancy of any constituency at 88 years. That gives a gap of 13 years between the top and bottom areas.
Carrie Hume, Head of Health Equals said: “Our members are diverse but carry the same message. The size of the UK’s life expectancy gap is entirely preventable, but not enough attention is paid to how our health is shaped by our interactions with the world around us.
“We’re calling on politicians to take action, doing more to understand what shapes our health, and creating plans to improve our opportunities for good health.”
John Godfrey, Director of Levelling Up, Legal & General added: “Life expectancy has stalled for the first time in 100 years — while for some areas of the UK, life expectancy is reversing.
“The UK is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and yet people are spending more time in poor health. It’s harming society, our economy and leading to lives needlessly cut short across the UK.”
Warren Heppolette, NHS GM’s chief officer for Strategy and innovation, said: “Health outcomes and life expectancy should not be determined by where you are born.
“In Greater Manchester, our integrated care system has been working in partnership to improve people’s health and wellbeing, and create a healthier, fairer, more equal society.
"Research published last year showed that Greater Manchester had made more progress on improving life expectancy than other comparable areas in England. Additionally, we have made most progress in areas in Greater Manchester which have higher rates of deprivation, and we will continue to work hard though to tackle health inequalities.”
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