The latest Office for national Statistics data (Healthy life expectancy, UK – Office for National Statistics) makes grim reading for everyone and worse for women. Our expectations of living well seem to be going south.
“In 2022 to 2024: Males in the UK could expect to spend 60.7 years (77% of life) in “good” general health, compared with 60.9 years (73%) for females; these were decreases of 1.8 and 2.5 years, respectively, compared with the last non-overlapping period (2019 to 2021).”
No wonder the NHS struggles to cope with the increasing demand as we face more years of less-good health. But where you are living also counts with people having better or worse prospects according to their location. The aftermath of Covid may also play a part alongside levels of deprivation that vary across the UK. In poorer areas, people may be working harder, facing more difficult lives, eating worse, being colder and not being able to get top-notch health care. “Healthy life” may also reflect people’s own subjective assessments of themselves. It may be harder to feel good if the rest of life is a challenge.
So, if our life prospects are looking grimmer, what can be done by each of us and as a society to get back to those better prospects of past years? Answers on a postcard!