Statistical bulletin shows fight against health inequality must continue

Acknowledging the publication of the first sub-regional bulletin of the Health and Social Care Inequalities Monitoring System, Dr Carolyn Harper, Director of Public Health, PHA said: “We have known for some time that good health is not experienced equally in Northern Ireland. 

"Across a range of measures, some people have worse health than others, most starkly highlighted by the life expectancy difference between those who live in deprived areas compared to Northern Ireland as a whole – 4.4 years less for men and 2.6 years less for women. This bulletin confirms what we already know about health inequalities. We now need to continue to work on the challenges they pose; and the factors that contribute to them such as poverty, lifestyle and adverse childhood experiences.

"We are clear about the sort of interventions and programmes that work. The fact that in some areas we are seeing the inequality gap narrowing in infant mortality; hospital admission rates; cancer incidence and mortality; mood and anxiety disorders; and dental registration means that our efforts are beginning to pay dividends. However, there is still more to be done – particularly in the area of alcohol related deaths, teenage births, smoking particularly during pregnancy and suicide. These and other issues causing inequality continue to be a high priority for the PHA.

"There is now an extensive body of evidence which shows that there is a huge gap in health and wellbeing across communities in NI. The time has now come to focus on the actions that will break the cycle of health inequalities and close that gap.”