West Cumbria Opportunities & Challenges 2025 54 55 LIFE EXPECTANCY Life expectancy at birth in Cumbria is below the England average for both men and women. Figures covering 2020-2022 show that life expectancy at birth for men is 78.2 years (78.9 England) and for women is 82.2 years (82.8 England).9 Life expectancy at birth for men in West Cumbria between 2020-22 was lower than the Cumbria rate standing at 77.16 years in Copeland and 77.13 years in Allerdale. The rates were also lower for women, standing at 80.38 years in Copeland and 82.08 years in Allerdale.10 There are significant differences in life expectancy at birth for men and women across West Cumbria. Between 2016 and 2020 life expectancy at birth for women in years was highest in Thursby ward at 85.26 and was lowest in Maryport South ward 78.70. For men over the same period life expectancy at birth was highest in Keswick 83.83 and lowest in Moss Bay and Moorclose 75.20.11 Proportion of residents who have self-reported that their health is very bad. Figures are taken from responses to the 2021 census. 0.00% - 0.77% 0.77% - 0.98% 0.98% - 1.19% 1.19% - 1.49% 1.49% - 3.67% England: 1.17% 3 Wards where the highest percentage of people reported very bad health: Moss Bay and Moorclose: 2.04% Mirehouse: 2.04% Millom: 1.83% CHRONIC AND LIFE-LIMITING ILLNESS During the 2021 Census many people selfreported that their health was ‘very bad’ and indeed there are several issues that are significantly worse in Cumberland when compared to England as a whole. For Allerdale and Copeland districts, emergency hospital admissions for stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and coronary heart disease are above the England average. In Copeland emergency admissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are also above the England average12 and more broadly across Cumberland in 2023/2024, 7.4% of patients aged six years or over had asthma compared to the England average of 6.5%)13 In 2023, the under 75 mortality rate in Cumberland for all circulatory diseases, was worse than the England average at 82.7 per 100,000 compared to 77.8 in England.14 The prevalence of diabetes in individuals aged 17 and over in Cumberland was 8.9%, which is higher than the England value of 7.7%.15 ...many people selfreported that their health was ‘very bad’ and indeed there are several issues that are significantly worse in Cumberland when compared to England as a whole. CANCER Cancer is the main cause of death in England. In Cumberland, mortality rates from cancer for all ages at the one-year range (2023) and the three-year range (2021-2023) were higher than the England average. The percentage of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 (2021) in Cumberland was 48.0% which is significantly lower than the England rate at 54.4%.16 In 2024, cancer screening coverage in Cumberland for breast cancer, bowel cancer and cervical cancer was higher than the England average.17 DISABILITY, NEURODIVERSITY AND SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS Across several measures of disability, figures for Allerdale and Copeland are above national averages: The number of children in receipt of some support for special educational needs is rising in Cumbria and in England. In 2022-2023, 17.3% of pupils in Cumbria received some sort of Special Educational Needs Support. The number of pupils identified as having a moderate or severe learning difficulty has remained broadly stable over recent years. There have also been rises in the numbers of people presenting with the following conditions: specific learning difficulties (dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia); speech, language and communication needs; autism spectrum disorders and social, emotional and mental health needs. These rises are accompanied by increasing demand for clinical support and growing waiting lists for services for both adults and children.19 SMOKING Smoking is the most important cause of preventable ill health and premature death in the UK. Smoking is a major risk factor for many diseases, such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart disease. It is also associated with cancers in other organs, including lip, mouth, throat, bladder, kidney, stomach, liver and cervix.20 Smoking prevalence in adults (18+) who were current smokers in 2022/2023 was better than the England average (13.6%) for both Allerdale (11.7%) and Copeland (10.4%).21 However, mortality rates from lung cancer in Cumberland for all ages and for both male and female during 2021-2023 were worse than the England average.22 2021 Census data18 Proportion of residents disabled (under equality act) with a limiting long-term illness where activities are limited a lot. Proportion of residents disabled (under equality act) with a limiting long-term illness where activities are limited a little. Proportion of residents who are not disabled under the Equality Act, but who have a long-term physical or mental health condition where day to day activities are not limited. Allerdale 8.95% 11.03% 7.36% Copeland 9.67% 11.41% 7.11% England 7.33% 9.97% 6.83% 19 What is “normal”, anyway? De-medicalising Mental Health and Neurodiversity: Cumberland Public Health Annual Report 2023/2024: Cumberland Council, 2024. 20 Public Health Profiles: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/tobacco-control 21 Public Health Profiles: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/tobacco-control 22 Public Health Profiles: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/search/cancer 23 This section covers physical activity in adults aged 16+ and overweight and obese adults aged18+. Physical activity and obesity statistics for children and young people can be found in the Growing Up section of this report. 24 A Hopeful Future: Equity and the Social Determinants of Health in Lancashire and Cumbria: Institute of Health Equity, 2022. 25 Cumberland Headline Statistics for Sport and Physical Activity (Adults): Active Cumbria, 2023, https://www.activecumbria.org/files/1317/1689/7045/0_AC_Headline_Statistics_Infographics_Cumberland_May24_v2.pdf 26 West Cumbria Opportunities and Challenges 2019: Cumbria Community Foundation, 2019.
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