Women's life expectancy rates in Ironbridge Gorge among lowest in UK

According to Office for National Statistics data in 2018, the average life expectancy is 74.

It is ranked second lowest in England and Wales, sharing its life expectancy rate with Middlehaven in Middlesbrough.

Women in Gwersyllt West, in North Wales, had the shortest life expectancy at birth at 72.6 years.

The longest was in Great Corby and Geltside, Carlisle, at 97.2 years.

ONS data published this week suggests the life expectancy of women living in the poorest areas of England fell by 100 days in recent years.

Between 2012-2014 and 2015-2017, female life expectancy in the richest areas increased by 84 days, widening the gap between rich and poor by half a year.

In men, the gap also widened – but less markedly.

Life expectancy in the UK as a whole has stopped improving at the rate expected, the ONS said.

Surprising

It said those women living in the most deprived areas can expect to live the shortest lives and live the smallest number of healthy years.

But Councillor Nicola Lowery, who represents the Ironbridge Gorge ward, said she could not think why life expectancy rates for women at birth were so low in the gorge.

She said: "It's very surprising. Generally speaking our health figures are quite positive.

"It's a very active community from a health and wellbeing perspective.

"I can't think of what is attributing to that, I would be keen to investigate that further."

Telford & Wrekin Council spokesman Russell Griffin said the Ironbridge ward has mortality rates which are above average.

He added: "This has been demonstrated to be due to the number of residential and care homes in the ward.

"As a result, there is an abnormally high percentage of deaths in Ironbridge ward occurring in nursing homes compared to the average picture."