People in poor parts of Cheshire west are dying 13 years sooner

Dec 24 2009 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

WEALTHY people in Cheshire West live 13 years longer than their poorer counterparts.

A new one-stop-shop for service assessments has been launched online, Oneplace, allowing residents to see how well they are being served.

It has revealed the county’s gaping health inequalities.

The report says West Cheshire has significantly more hospital stays for alcohol related harm than most other parts of England.

It added: “Progress so far has been too slow and while plans are now being put in place, the pace of progress needs to speed up.

“There are big differences in life expectancy depending where people live. Within the poorest parts of West Cheshire, people live about 13 years less than people who live in the more well-off areas. This gap has increased over recent years.

“There are over twice as many deaths from heart disease in people aged under 75 in the less well-off areas of West Cheshire than in the better off areas.”

Chester MP Christine Russell says the blunt assessment exposes the urgent need for more cultural activities in Chester.

She says there is “nothing else to do” but go out and drink.

She added: “I think this is fresh evidence as to why the council shouldn’t think twice about giving permission for a 2,500 square metre cinema and arts venue at the Odeon. There’s nothing else to do.”