Chapter 3

Recognising Liverpool’s Health Gaps for Transparency and Action

Liverpool is a city with significant health inequalities and preventable ill health

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People in Liverpool are living longer, but progress has stalled over the last decade. People in Liverpool live shorter lives when compared to the England average. They live more of their lives in poor health. There is significant variation within the city by deprivation levels with high levels of preventable ill health (Figure 5).

Figure 5: Key statistics on inequalities and preventable ill health in Liverpool (source Liverpool JSNA)

There are inequalities in life expectancy between Liverpool and England

In the three years between 2021 and 2023, men living in Liverpool can expect to live 3.3 years less than other men in England and women 3.4 years less

Preventable deaths between 2021 and 2023 are 59% higher

On average men will spend 27% of their lives in poor health and women will spend 30%

By the age of 50 years, seven in every ten residents 72% have at least one morbidity and by age 65 years 65% have two morbidities

Almost

82,000

people have hypertension

80,800

have depression

33,900

have asthma

33,700

have diabetes

The number of adults

with depression

is projected to

double by 2040

if current trends continue

Number of people in Liverpool with long term conditions. Source: QOF 2023/24

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Summary:

The Health in the City 2040 report projected that health conditions in Liverpool will rise by 54% — with depression more than doubling by 2040 (figure X). These conditions are typically managed in primary care, underlining the need to invest in general practice, especially in the most deprived areas, as well as community-based services, with a focus on prevention and early intervention.

Liverpool residents can expect to live in poor health up to a decade earlier than people in the rest of England. Living in poor health earlier can lead to a decreased quality of life, with people having limited mobility, independence, and engagement in social or work activities.

Modelled poor health prevalence in women. Source: ONS.

Comparison of England and Liverpool, year 2022

Line graph showing poor health prevalence in women year 2022

Summary:

Approximately 43% of women in Liverpool aged 60-64 are in poor health, a higher rate than that of women in England who are a decade older (40%).

Modelled poor health prevalence in men. Source: ONS.

Comparison of England and Liverpool, year 2022

Line graph showing poor health prevalence in men year 2022

Summary:

In Liverpool, 41% of men aged 60-64-years are in poor health, a rate similar to that observed in 70-74-year-old men across England.

Figure 6: Life expectancy in Liverpool by Mersey Rail train stations

Figure 6 shows how in just a short train ride across the city, the average length of time a person lives decreases.

Edited Merseyrail train station map showing life expectancy for each station

Created by modifying “A map of the Merseyrail network in Liverpool.” (Copyright David Arthur (Licensed under CC by 4.0))

Infographic summary

The infographic shows Liverpool wards from 2020-20 in train stops. It demonstrates how in just a short train ride, the average length of time a person lives decreases by 13 years.

A coloured square over each train stop represents the wards quintile of deprivation.

The number inside each coloured square represents life expectancy in that ward.