According to Public Health England things are not too rosy in Weymouth & Portland. As the summary below reveals things are pretty dreadful for some. This was further highlighted by Dr Jon Orrell in his article in Dorset Eye over the weekend in which he stated that the lack of desire by the major parties to remedy this had influenced him to leave them behind. Higher deprivation; mortality, morbidity and child obesity rates; lower educational success and higher levels of STD’s all suggest that something isn’t quite right in these parts. So why are so few making a noise?
The answer is a little complicated but can be made easier by acknowledging that in the more affluent areas of the town voters tend to vote for those who promise to protect what they have i.e Tory and in the more deprived areas they vote for those who promise to help them make their lives a little more bearable i.e Labour and Green. Nothing new there then. But the main problem is that because the philosophy of the candidates is so different on these matters the situation won’t change. People will continue to die up to 10 years earlier and the local community should be screaming at how outrageous this is. There should be demo’s; letters to MP’s and Councillors; speakers on boxes in the town centre; tears for the dead… but no; merely a resigned shrug of the shoulder or victim blaming (the irrational notion that everyone in an unequal system can be affluent and if they are not it’s their fault.).
Shopping for the new flat screen or 3 litre car or holiday in some resort takes precedence over empathy and community spirit. All those likes on facebook of another pic or video of the harbour or sea front is more important than getting out there and screaming from the top of our lungs ‘what’s going on?’ There are a significant number who do but they feel isolated and disempowered by those who don’t.
Stop blaming people and work with them. Stop looking down on others with a misinformed notion that you are better. You are not and never will be except in your own heads. Don’t become food for the worms with only jealousy and envy left as an inheritance.
Make you; your family and the borough proud.
Health in summary
The health of people in Weymouth and Portland is varied compared with the England average. Deprivation is higher than average and about 18.9% (2,100) children live in poverty. Life expectancy for both men and women is similar to the England average.
Living longer
Life expectancy is 9.5 years lower for men in the most deprived areas of Weymouth and Portland than in the least deprived areas.
Child health
In Year 6, 18.8% (108) of children are classified as obese. The rate of alcohol-specific hospital stays among those under 18 was 43.4*. This represents 5 stays per year. Levels of GCSE attainment are worse than the England average.
Adult health
In 2012, 22.4% of adults are classified as obese. The rate of alcohol related harm hospital stays was 578*, better than the average for England. This represents 376 stays per year. The rate of self-harm hospital stays was 371.4*, worse than the average for England. This represents 213 stays per year. The rate of smoking related deaths was 289*. This represents 127 deaths per year. Estimated levels of adult physical activity are worse than the England average. Estimated levels of adult smoking are better than the England average.
The rate of sexually transmitted infections is worse than average. The rate of TB is better than average.
Local priorities
Local priorities include anxiety, depression and dementia care, smoking, type 2 diabetes and circulatory disease, and harms caused by road traffic collisions.
Douglas James
