New figures show healthy life expectancy fall in Sussex

New data from the Office for National Statistics has revealed the number of years of good health someone can expect to enjoy if they were born between 2022-24.

The data, which covers local authorities across the UK, shows those born in both East and West Sussex between 2022-24 can expect a lower healthy life expectancy than those born between 2019-21. 

In West Sussex, figures for women fell from 65.6 to 64.5 years, a drop of 1.1 years.

Figures for men fell from 64.0 to 63.1, a drop of 0.9 years. 

In East Sussex, the fall was more dramatic, with women’s healthy life expectancy plunging by 4.8 years, from 64.7 to 59.9.

Men in East Sussex also lost almost four years of healthy life expectancy, falling from 63.0 to 59.2.

The figures reflect a national trend, which saw increases in healthy life expectancy for women in just 22 local authority areas across the UK, while 188 witnessed a fall.

Males faired slightly better, with 36 authorities seeing an increase, compared to 180 which fell.

The average figures for both women and men across the UK are the lowest since healthy life expectancy was first estimated in 2011-13.

The ONS said there continued to be a clear geographical divide between areas with the highest and lowest estimates.

The highest area for both men and women was Richmond-upon-Thames.

The lowest area was Blackpool for men, and Hartlepool for women.

Greg Ceely, ONS head of population life events, said: “Today’s figures show that, while people in the UK are living longer than at the height of the pandemic, the proportion of their lives spent in good health is still getting smaller.

“Back in 2011, when the ONS first collected this data, men were expected to remain in good health until around the age of 63, and women 64.

“Today, they could both expect around 61 years of healthy life.”

Matthew Bazeley-Bell, deputy chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, called on the government to address the drivers of ill health, not just the consequences.

He said: “Until everyone has access to decent housing, a good working environment, healthy food and safe spaces to be active, we cannot expect healthy life expectancy to improve – or the inequalities gap between communities to close.”