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Wales' life expectancy gap between richest and poorest growing Wales' life expectancy gap between richest and poorest growing
(40 minutes later)
The life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest people in Wales is growing, according to new figures.The life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest people in Wales is growing, according to new figures.
Men in the most deprived areas are likely to die nine years before those in the wealthiest parts, the report from Public Health Wales. Men in the most deprived areas are likely to die nine years before those in the wealthiest parts, says Public Health Wales.
Ministers said the causes were complex, but they were tackling problems like smoking, drinking and inactivity. Ministers said the reasons were complex, but they were tackling factors like smoking, drinking and inactivity.
However, overall life expectancy is improving, with men on average expected to reach 77 and women 81.However, overall life expectancy is improving, with men on average expected to reach 77 and women 81.
The report shows people in Ceredigion and Monmouthshire can expect to live about five years longer than those in Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent.The report shows people in Ceredigion and Monmouthshire can expect to live about five years longer than those in Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent.
The gap between rich and poor has grown in the last decade. The life expectancy gap between rich and poor has widened in the last decade.
'Powerful information' Dr Judith Greenacre, from Public Health Wales, told BBC Radio Wales it was difficult to say exactly why the gap between wealthy and poor areas was growing.
Dr Judith Greenacre, from Public Health Wales, said: "This is powerful information and it needs a powerful response if we are to give the same opportunities to those brought up in Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire. "Life expectancy is related to many different factors that actually impact over peoples' entire lives," she said.
"This report shows that people in poorer areas of Wales not only die sooner, but also spend more of their shorter lives in poorer health. These differences are not inevitable and need urgent attention." 'No easy answer'
Dr Greenacre added: "Men and women can expect to live for longer and most people can look forward to spending most of their lives in good health. "Some of it may be to do with the start people have in life, how much education they have and what opportunities there are for work and to get income."
Reducing inequalities The amount of exercise people do, how much they drink, whether they smoke, and their diets are also important.
"Nonetheless, there remain differences in health and wellbeing across Wales and the rest of the UK, and the reasons for this are complex." She said the research would help the Welsh government and local councils tackle the problem.
"We need to look at how we target services to those areas to find out whether we are delivering services in the best way to help people in more disadvantaged areas," she added.
"There is no easy to answer to this but I think there is a lot we can do by taking it seriously.
"What we have here is a lot of information at a very local level which will enable people to look at the most deprived communities and work with those communities to try and improve things."
'Unhealthy behaviours
The Welsh government said it welcomed the improvement in life expectancy and in healthy life expectancy and was committed to addressing the widening health inequality gap.The Welsh government said it welcomed the improvement in life expectancy and in healthy life expectancy and was committed to addressing the widening health inequality gap.
Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Tony Jewell said: "An example of reducing inequalities in Wales has been the dramatic fall in childhood pedestrian accidents and injuries due to interventions such as traffic speed controls.Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Tony Jewell said: "An example of reducing inequalities in Wales has been the dramatic fall in childhood pedestrian accidents and injuries due to interventions such as traffic speed controls.
"The Welsh government has clear strategies to tackle these factors, and others such as unhealthy behaviours including smoking, drinking, inactivity and eating unhealthily.""The Welsh government has clear strategies to tackle these factors, and others such as unhealthy behaviours including smoking, drinking, inactivity and eating unhealthily."