Picturesque seashores and clear sea air typically make coastal cities well-liked journey locations, however their attraction generally hides a well being disparity that’s obvious to locals. One of many seaside resorts with poorer well being outcomes is Hartlepool.
Regionally, the north-east has the bottom authorities projections of life expectancy charges for males in England at 77.9 years, however figures for Hartlepool are even decrease. Based on the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) report, male life expectancy within the city was 76.1 years.
Whereas girls are usually anticipated to stay considerably longer than males till 83.1 years on common in England, the speed was 81.four years in Hartlepool.
Shane Moore, a councillor for the Headland and Harbour ward, some of the disadvantaged components of city defined that well being issues linked to industrial working circumstances are partly accountable for decrease life expectancy.
However life-style selections additionally appear to play a task. Moore informed The Guardian: “Smoking, heavy ingesting, drug misuse. They’re markers which can be introduced up by the director of public well being and time and time once more by native companies.”
Hartlepool has one of many highest loss of life charges from drug misuse and alcohol-related liver illness within the north-east area. Moreover, nearly one in 4 girls smoked in being pregnant in contrast with a nationwide common of 10 %.
The proportion of present UK people who smoke in 2017 stood at 15.1 %, whereas 19.2 % of Hartlepool inhabitants had been people who smoke, in response to the ONS and Public Well being England figures.
Hartlepool isn’t the one seaside resort that hides a well being disparity. Disproportionately excessive concentrations of persistent illness, psychological sickness and poor life expectancy additionally hassle a few of England’s hottest vacation locations, corresponding to Blackpool, Hastings, Skegness, and Torbay.
A 2021 report by the nation’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, revealed that coastal cities have a few of the nation’s poorest well being outcomes, which depart many residents “previous earlier than their time”.
Whitty stated: “Coastal areas are some probably the most lovely, vibrant and historic locations within the nation. Additionally they have a few of the worst well being outcomes with low life expectancy and excessive charges of many main illnesses.”
The report discovered that poverty and poor well being outcomes put Hartlepool at increased threat from the COVID-19 pandemic. The long-term well being affect of this can be “vital”, in response to the report.
Whitty urged funding in schooling, jobs, housing and transport, in addition to motion to deal with NHS workers shortages in these areas.