Health divide in East Lothian
A male child born in North Berwick is likely to live an average of 10 years longer than another child born in Tranent or Prestonpans.
That was one of a number of alarming statistics brought before East Lothian Council's cabinet at a meeting in Haddington this week.
Recommending that the cabinet endorse a strategy of addressing health inequality in the early years, the council's Director of Community Services, Dr Sue Ross, told how children in Prestonpans, Tranent, Musselburgh East, Wallyford and Whitecraig are exposed more often than the average for East Lothian to factors that will reduce their chances of good health in later life.
Statistics have shown that breastfeeding rates are much lower in those areas, as is educational attainment.
Expectations
Smoking in pregnancy, however, is much higher, along with levels of parental smoking, incidence of parents with drug and alcohol issues, teenage pregnancy and admission to dental hospitals.
In order to bridge the gap in health expectations within East Lothian, the council has offered up the county as one of only eight test sites in Scotland for the government's 'Equally Well' initiative.
The aim of 'Equally Well' is to help public bodies, particularly the NHS and local councils, to make sure that everyone gets the same chance to live healthy lives.
Full report in East Lothian News and Musselburgh News, January 16, 2009
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Friday 18 May 2012
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