A new report showing life expectancy has risen to its highest ever level highlights the need for extra funding in public health and adult social care, town hall chiefs are warning.
New figures from Public Health England show that men can expect to live for a further 19 years at age 65, while women can expect to live for a further 21 years at the same age. However, it also found variation in figures for local authorities, with one quarter showing a decrease in life expectancy at age 65.
The report also found that while people in England are living longer, many are doing so in poor health.
Danny Dorling, Halford Mackinder Professor of Human Geography at the University of Oxford said: ‘Although national average life expectancy continues to rise, in many parts of England improvements have stalled in recent years. There is an urgent need to determine why this is happening. Beneath the headline figures of this report there is evidence of worsening health for many older people in some parts of the country.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said the report highlights the ‘urgent’ need for local services to be adequately funded.
‘The report also shows that there is work to be done in addressing inequalities in those areas where life expectancy has fallen, which is why it is crucial we invest more in prevention,’ said Cllr Izzi Seccombe, the LGA's community and wellbeing spokesperson.
‘This not only saves money for other parts of the public sector by reducing demand for hospital, health and social care services, but ultimately improves the public’s health and enables them to live longer, healthier and independent lives.’