Mary Glindon MP reacts to alarming life expectancy data, calling for urgent action to address health inequalities in Newcastle.
She’s calling for action to improve access to jobs, housing, and clean air. Mary has joined the Health Equals campaign, which is all about tackling these health inequalities. This group includes charities like Mind and the British Red Cross.
They’ve done some research showing that life expectancy here is 78.1 years. That’s 6.5 years shorter than in healthier parts of the UK. Mary said it’s unfair that where you live can affect how long you live.
She’s committed to closing this gap and making health equal for everyone. Paul McDonald from Health Equals pointed out that this is the first time we can see life expectancy at the constituency level.
He emphasized that our health is influenced by our surroundings, like income and housing. They’re pushing for a government action plan to ensure everyone has a fair shot at good health.
In December, Alice Wiseman, the public health director, talked about Newcastle’s goal to become a “Marmot city.” This means focusing on reducing health inequalities.
She believes that a fairer society leads to better health. The council is working hard to make health a priority in all their decisions. They want to ensure the wellbeing of all residents.
