The number of Manchester men needlessly dying is almost double the national average.
The figures, correlated by MM, show that in 2012 there were a total of 688 male deaths from avoidable causes in the city.
This resulted in a death rate of 365 people per 100,000 population – which is shockingly 42% higher than the average across England and 30% higher than the North West’s mean.
Councillor Paul Andrews, Manchester Executive Member for Adult Health and Wellbeing, told MM: “We already know that Manchester, which has areas of high deprivation, has poor life expectancy in comparison to other parts of the country and we need to tackle this.”
Avoidable death statistics take into account any death that is due to factors which are considered either treatable or preventable through more adequate or timely health care and education.
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures are used by a number of charities and organisations as an indication of the quality of health care in a particular area.
A region, therefore, with a high avoidable death rate would be considered to have a poorer quality of health care.
Manchester was recently revealed to have one of the lowest survival rates for cancer patients and authorities will need to take action in order to ensure that survival rates begin to fall in line with national averages.
Councillor Andrews added: “We have made significant progress in terms of reducing mortality rates and these represent a major achievement when set against the continuing and enduring levels of deprivation and ill health in the city.
“Manchester’s health and care providers are resolute in working together to provide joined-up, integrated services for residents which is fundamental in providing better, co-ordinated care as part of our Living Longer, Living Better strategy for Manchester.”
And the councillor also insists that, by working together, healthcare providers can tackle the figures.
“By sharing statistics and information on health patterns from the Joint Needs Strategic Assessment (JSNA), which is a culmination of data from health and care providers, voluntary organisations and patient and public advisory groups across the city.
“All the health and care providers are able to get a full, detailed picture of what can be done to improve residents’ health and the factors that affect wellbeing.”
The largest number of avoidable male deaths in Manchester in 2012 was due to heart problems, accounting for 27% of all avoidable fatalities, with neoplasms, or tumours, responsible for just over 26%.
A spokesperson for the British Heart Foundation said: “Over a quarter of all deaths in the UK each year are caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD). These figures reflect the unfortunate reality that cardiovascular disease continues to be one of the UK’s biggest killers.
“What makes this so tragic is that CVD is largely preventable – if we take action to prevent it. It’s important to make positive changes early on in life to help keep your heart healthy and reduce your risk.
“Following a healthy diet, keeping physically active, stopping smoking and maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels can all help reduce your chance of developing CVD.”
Across England and Wales ONS figures show that since in 2003, deaths from potentially avoidable causes accounted for 25% of all fatalities.
Since then, health authorities have reduced the proportion avoidable deaths accounting for 23% of all deaths in 2012.
Figures provided by Manchester Council also show there has been a cut in mortality with a 24.1% and 18.2% reduction in all age and all causes of mortality in men and women respectively.
In addition, there has also been a 19.1% in premature mortality from all cancers, a 44.2% fall from circulatory diseases and a 12.3% from suicide and undetermined injury in persons aged 15 and over.
Image courtesy of UCD Medicine & Medical Science with thanks
