HEALTH inequalities in Stockport are the worst across the whole of Greater Manchester.

An independent report from the director of Public Health has revealed that affluent Stopfordians survive at least 12 years longer than their poorer neighbours.

The postcode lottery means that while wealthy Bramhall residents can expect to live into their 80s, those just five miles away in Brinnington – Stockport’s most deprived ward – make it just past 70.

Similarly, a Cheadle male is expected to live until he is 80-years-old, but a man in Cheadle Heath, is expected to live until the age of 74.

Brinnington and Central councillor, Chris Murphy, branded the death rate gap ‘unacceptable’.

He said: "Worrying about what’s the most healthy option is a luxury people in Brinnington can’t afford.  It’s about opportunities and poorer people don’t have enough.We need to get more employers on board so that people can get into work and raise their expectations. It’s okay telling people to give up the cigarettes, but you’ve got to give them hope first before you can get your message across."

Stockport’s director of Public Health, Stephen Watkins, said the gap appears worse because the borough is the most diverse in Greater Manchester.

"The fact is that in Stockport we have one of the most deprived wards standing alongside some of the wealthiest wards in Greater Manchester," he said.

"And we are making progress. Life expectancy for Brinnington males is now more than 70-years-old for the first time ever. We’re pleased that life expectancy in less affluent areas is increasing, but on the other hand, the gap isn’t closing, because those in more affluent areas are living even longer. We’ve got the health trainer programme, encouraging people to adopt a healthier lifestyle. And we do know that smoking and obesity are our biggest problems."

The average life expectancy across the whole of Stockport is slightly higher than the national average.

A newborn baby boy could expect to live 77.4 years and a newborn baby girl 82.2 years if mortality rates remain in line with these most recent figures.

One of the biggest killers in Stockport is smoking, with studies showing half of all people in deprived areas still light up.

A Stockport Council spokesperson said: "Together with NHS Stockport, we’ve deployed a number of health trainers to work in deprived areas to tackle these inequalities and to provide personalised advice to encourage people to stop smoking, lose weight and reduce alcohol consumption."

Average life expectancy in Stockport:

AREA
MALES
FEMALES
Bramhall North
82.0
83.1
Bramhall South
79.6
84.4
Bredbury and Woodley
77.7
81.2
Bredbury Green and Romiley
78.8
83.5
Brinnington and Central
70.2
 75.8
Cheadle and Gatley
80.5
83.6
Cheadle Hulme North
78.3
85.0
Cheadle Hulme South
79.6
85.4
Davenport and Cale Green
72.8
78.7
Edgeley and Cheadle Heath
74.5
77.8
Hazel Grove
78.1
85.4
Heald Green
78.6
87.0
Heatons North
78.7
80.9
Heatons South
77.0
83.6
Manor
75.2
81.8
Marple North
79.0
82.7
Marple South
80.1
83.4
Offerton
76.2
82.3
Reddish North
75.9
80.8
Reddish South
75.7
82.1
Stepping Hill
78.3
82.1
Stockport average
77.4
82.2