Official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that Blackpool residents face the highest risk of dying from avoidable causes in England and Wales. The figures, published in 2023, show that Blackpool recorded 476 avoidable deaths per 100,000 people, which is more than double the national average of 238 per 100,000 in England and significantly above the Wales average of 277 per 100,000.
Avoidable deaths, classified as those which could have been prevented through timely healthcare or public health interventions, include fatalities caused by poor cancer care, excessive alcohol consumption, heart disease, and lung conditions. In total, over 1,900 people in Blackpool died from such preventable or treatable health issues during the year.
The situation appears particularly severe for men in Blackpool, who suffered an avoidable death rate of 597 per 100,000 men, representing the highest figure nationally. Following Blackpool, Manchester and Kingston upon Hull recorded avoidable death rates of 396 and 388 per 100,000 people respectively, placing them as the second and third worst affected areas.
In contrast, the Hampshire district of Hart reported the lowest avoidable death rate, with 132 deaths per 100,000 — nearly four times lower than Blackpool’s figure. Hart experienced 353 recorded avoidable deaths during the same period.
The ONS highlighted a regional divide in avoidable death rates, with areas in Northern England generally suffering rates around 40% higher than those in the South. Additionally, socio-economic factors appear significant, as poorer areas experience nearly four times as many avoidable deaths as wealthier ones.
Cancer remains the leading cause of avoidable death, outranking heart disease and lung conditions. However, the ONS also reported a worrying rise in deaths related to alcohol and drug use, particularly from 2019 onwards. In 2023, nearly 10,500 deaths in the UK were attributed specifically to alcohol-related causes, signalling a 38% increase compared with 2019. This trend marks the fourth consecutive year of rising fatalities linked to alcohol. Some experts have suggested that this increase may be partially due to unhealthy drinking habits that developed during the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns.
Greg Ceely, head of population health monitoring at the ONS, said: "It continues to be higher in the most deprived communities, amongst men, and in the northern regions of England. These disparities are also seen in the rise in alcohol and drugs related avoidable mortality. Whilst it has steadily increased since 2001, in 2023 the highest rates are found among men living in the most deprived areas."
Ceely further noted that although avoidable mortality initially decreased following an increase during the pandemic, the rates have not fallen significantly in the current year and remain above pre-pandemic levels. Experts have attributed the elevated rates during the pandemic to a combination of the direct impacts of Covid-19 and disruptions to healthcare services, including delayed diagnoses and treatments for serious conditions such as cancer and heart disease. Persistent challenges within the NHS, including ambulance delays and treatment backlogs, are also believed to contribute to these elevated death rates.
Anna Gazzillo, senior analytical manager at the Health Foundation thinktank, commented on the findings, saying: "Avoidable deaths are not just statistics; they are a stark reminder that too many lives are cut short unnecessarily. They reflect real failures in preventing illness and providing timely care. There is an urgent need for the government to make good on its commitment to reduce unacceptable health inequalities and tackle the root causes of ill health."
The Department of Health and Social Care was contacted for comment regarding the report and the ongoing health disparities highlighted by the data.
Source: Noah Wire Services