Men in the poorest areas of Kingston die, on average, 6.9 years earlier than those in richest parts of the borough.

The information was revealed in an annual public health report released this week.

It showed that women living in the most deprived areas are also likely to die, on average, 4.7 years earlier than their more wealthy counterparts.

This year’s report focused on the importance of place and the way it shapes wellbeing, frequently making reference to the proposed regeneration of the Cambridge Road Estate, which is the most deprived area in the borough.

Director for Public Health, Iona Lidington, presented the report at the Health and Wellbeing Board on Tuesday [November 19].

She said that the wealth disparity in the borough made the living situation more difficult for more deprived residents.

“Kingston is fairly affluent borough but it does have small and important pockets of deprivation,” she said.

“If you are right next to much more affluent areas you feel that deprivation much more acutely.

“So if you are in low paid employment, don’t have a job, perhaps don’t have a car, and people just up the road have got a couple of cars on their front drive, you’re going to be noticing that much more, and that day to day lived experience is therefore poorer,” she said.

The report highlighted that there was a notable difference in smoking rates between those in routine and manual jobs, and the rest of the population in the borough.

More than 21 per cent of those in manual jobs reported that they smoked, compared to just 11.2 per cent of the rest of the population, showing smoking to be a key area to tackle to reduce the life-expectancy gap between the borough’s richest and poorest.

Overall, the life expectancy for the borough has started to plateau and fell slightly last year, but remains above average for England.

Women live on average 84.8 years, while men live for 81.4 years.

However, both men and women only reported an average of 67 years of ‘good health.’

This means men experience 14.2 years, and women 17.7 years, in less than good health.

“That’s a long time for people being able to feel that their ability to do everyday tasks is impacted,” said Ms Lidington.

“Trying to maintain people’s independence and maintain their good quality of life is very important, we want to decrease that gap in healthy life expectancy.”

The over-80 age group is expected to increase in the next 10 years, as well as the 15-19 demographic.

Overall, the population of the borough is expected to reach more than 200,000 by 2029, up from 180,000 today – an increase of 11 per cent.

This will have a large impact on services in the borough, and is yet another reason behind the council’s growth strategy involving more housing and schools.

The report also revealed that cancer is now the most common cause of death in the borough, at 27.8 per cent. It is followed by problems with the circulatory system and dementia at 25 per cent cent, and respiratory conditions, at 12 per cent.