McGimpsey endorses Belfast Healthy Cities report

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey has endorsed a report produced by Belfast Healthy Cities which provides a profile of Belfast based on social determinants of health.

Speaking at the launch of 'Divided By Health: A City Profile', the Health Minister said: “This profile shows that some important health improvements have been achieved in the Belfast Trust area over the last decade. In the Belfast City Council area life expectancy has improved by about two years for men and women and in the Castlereagh Council area for men, life expectancy has improved by up to three years.

“However, while this is good news and is to be welcomed, the profile also shows that social disadvantage and deprivation play a major part in contributing to health inequalities, for example gaps in life expectancy are growing. It is unacceptable that in this day and age with all the modern medical interventions available, there has been slow progress raising life expectancy for the most deprived in our society.

“Health is everyone’s responsibility. We must do more to engage the population to take that responsibility seriously. And as policy makers, we must focus on tackling inequalities in health and their root causes and make this a priority.

“I believe the creation of the Agency for Public Health and Social Well-being and a stronger role for local government in health improvement will provide the focus needed to ensure better co-ordination of public health services on the ground.”

Joan Devlin, Programme Director of Belfast Healthy Cities said: “We are delighted to have the Minister here today to officially launch our latest publication, ‘Divided by Health: A City Profile'. We welcome the improvements there have been in health and wellbeing in the Belfast Trust area in the last ten years, according to the report.

“However, what is most startling are the widening gaps in health inequalities that the profile revealed for example, a boy born in Belfast West Parliamentary Constituency can expect to live six years less than a boy born in Belfast South. Findings show male life expectancy in Belfast is 11th lowest in the UK (422nd place), while Castlereagh ranks among the top half of local authorities (172nd place). In a UK wide perspective, Belfast continues to rank low on indicators such as life expectancy, long term limiting illness, child health and economic inactivity.

“We see the profile as an essential resource and basis for agreeing future policy priorities for Belfast, and the ongoing health reforms offer a timely opportunity for this.

“This launch coincides with the 20th anniversary of Belfast as a World Health Organisation (WHO) European Healthy City and health equity will be a key theme for the WHO European Healthy Cities Network in its next five year phase. I believe it is essential that health representatives and local government in Northern Ireland make reducing inequalities in health a key priority. Through collaboration across sectors health and wellbeing can be improved for everyone.”

Notes to editors:

1. Divided by Health: A City Profile is available to download from www.belfasthealthycities.com

2. Belfast Healthy Cities is an independent partnership organisation working to shape and influence healthy public policy. It aims to promote equity and health improvement through inter-sectoral collaboration.

3. Belfast is a leading member of the World Health Organisation European Healthy Cities Network, which currently has 80 member cities across Europe.

4. Media enquiries to 028 9052 0579 or out of hours 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned. Enquiries about Belfast Healthy Cities should be directed to Eleanor Anderson on 028 9033 9939 or 078 3410 1627