Looking forward
A fairer, healthier Liverpool
Liverpool has a rich history of collaboration and community engagement, particularly in addressing complex issues like poverty.
The Fairer and Healthier Liverpool Group, evolving from over a decade of work, aims to tackle health inequality. The city also participates in the Healthy Cities Network connecting cities across Europe to inform learning and development to promote health equity. The network also draws on a rich history of trail-blazing values-based work within Liverpool and the UK.
The Neighbourhoods Model is another initiative focusing on breaking down service barriers and understanding local needs. Covering 13 neighbourhoods, it seeks to bridge historical divides and improve services based on community input. This model emphasizes collaboration, data-driven decision-making, and creating action plans to address priorities.
Despite these efforts, Liverpool faces growing inequality and deprivation, exacerbated by a cost-of-living crisis. Fuel poverty, affecting nearly 19% of households, highlights the struggles faced by many. Public Health initiatives aim to address these disparities through research and advocacy.
Liverpool’s experience in tackling health inequalities informs its future strategies. By prioritising evidence-based approaches and community involvement, the city aims to transform public health efforts with the wellbeing of its people at the core.
The sun setting over the city
State of health in Liverpool 2040
Document cover from the Independent Report by Director of Public Health Matt Ashton. The report title: State of health in Liverpool 2040
In 2024 the Public Health team will continue to work hard to build on the work highlighted in this report. Improving the health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities for Liverpool Residents.
The Health 2040 report was presented at the All Council meeting in January 2024. This was in response to the leader of the Councils Notice of motion on inequalities. The report identifies health challenges faced by Liverpool. It projects the state of health by 2040 if action is not taken now. The report describes how health in the city has evolved since 1984. It considers the current state of health in 2024. For the first time a projection of health and wellbeing in the city in 2040 based on current trends. As well as this, the report outlines the work the council, its partners and the government need to do to tackle the challenges it is projecting by 2040. The report states that unless changes are made, the city’s residents are facing:
- Spending more than a quarter of their life (26.1%) in ill health.
- A fall in women’s life expectancy by one year and a fall in women’s healthy life expectancy by four years.
- An increase of up to 38,000 more people living with major illness, defined as at least two long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, asthma and chronic kidney disease.
- Double the number of adults experiencing depression.
- The health issues most common in children will be related to mental health, obesity and child poverty.
It also highlights that these challenges are made worse by the fact that Liverpool is the third most deprived local authority in England, with 63% of residents living in areas ranked among the most deprived in England, and three in 10 children living in poverty. These inequalities have a direct impact on health.
The report includes key recommended actions with a role for all sectors if we are to achieve positive outcomes. The gravity of this report is such that its recommendations will underpin all future work in public health. It is these recommendations that we outline in this year’s PHAR. We look forward to updating you more next year.
Read the State of Health in 2040 report
Life expectancy in Liverpool wards 2020-2022
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.
Red square – most deprived quintile
- Bank Hall – Life Expectancy = 73
- Kirkdale – Life Expectancy = 73
- Sand Hills – Life Expectancy = 73
Pink square – second most deprived quintile
- Walton – Life Expectancy = 75
- Edge Hill – Life Expectancy = 76
Yellow square – Third most deprived quintile
- Aintree – Life Expectancy = 75
- Orrell Park – Life Expectancy = 81
- Fazakerley – Life Expectancy = 80
- Rice Lane – Life Expectancy = 75
Light green square – second least deprived quintile
- Lime Street – Life Expectancy = 77
- Wavertree Technology Park – Life Expectancy = 78
- St Michaels – Life Expectancy = 81
- Liverpool South Parkway – Life Expectancy = 77
- Hunts Cross – Life Expectancy = 82
Dark green square – least deprived quintile
- Moorfields – Life Expectancy = 76
- Broadgreen – Life Expectancy = 83
- Central – Life Expectancy = 80
- James Street – Life Expectancy = 76
- Brunswick – Life Expectancy = 77
- Mossley Hill – Life Expectancy = 86
- West Allerton – Life Expectancy = 86
- Cressington – Life Expectancy = 78
- Aigburth – Life Expectancy = 84
Recommendations for 2024
This year’s annual report has focused on communities and culture, so we will:
- Continue to work collaboratively with LCC Culture to embed health and wellbeing messages into the planning and delivery of Culture Liverpool programmes to reach communities through events and campaigns including Kind to Your Mind and Reach Out.
- Continue to work with our communities to develop targeted interventions to empower them to improve health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities.
Sefton Park, Liverpool
The Health 2040 Report includes recommendations, these, along with the Liverpool City Council plan and the City Plan inform the priorities of the Public Health team. The recommendations are:
Healthier, happier, fairer Liverpool
Focus on improving wellbeing and addressing social determinants of health. Through strategic plans like the One Liverpool Plan and the Council Plan.
International frameworks
Use global initiatives like Healthy Cities, Age Friendly Cities Network, and Child Friendly Cities. To shape goals and work together with partners for a joined up approach.
Health in all policies
Put in place a joined-up approach across the Council. Building health considerations into planning, housing, regeneration, and resource allocation.
Collaboration with NHS
Work with healthcare providers to shift towards prevention and early intervention. Providing people with more control over their care. Bringing together services for those with complex health needs.
Neighbourhood model
Improve service delivery through local Neighbourhood teams. To address specific local issues and improve community engagement.
Family Hubs
Create hubs to offer well rounded support services for families. Bringing together health, social care, early years, and community resources.
Net Zero Liverpool Action Plan
Lead citywide efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. Focusing on health co-benefits and enhancing resilience to climate change.
Health protection
Strengthen primary healthcare systems. Tackle misinformation about vaccinations. Increase awareness of antimicrobial resistance. Develop pandemic resilience plans.
Sexual health
Roll out a strategy to reduce sexually transmitted infections. Improve reproductive health. End HIV transmission by 2030. And better access to care, particularly for underserved communities.