How long do people enjoy good health where YOU live? Use our tool to find out where you fall in Huddersfield's rich/poor health divide

You'll enjoy 18 more years of good health if you’re born in one of Huddersfield’s wealthiest areas than if you’re born in one of the town’s most deprived.

If you’re a man born in Shepley or Shelley you’ll have 70 years of good health, according to official statistics.

But if you’re a woman, who lives in Lockwood or Thornton Lodge, you’re likely to have just 52 years before a chronic condition sets in.

While a Kirklees resident can, on average, expect 62 years of good health, the figures reveal a startling health gap between the town’s richest and poorest residents.

Kirklees Council Cabinet Member for Prevention, Clr Viv Kendrick, said it was ‘outrageous’ that such a health gap existed.

The Labour member said: “I don’t think it has a place as we’re a wealthy, developed country.

“It is outrageous.”

The Labour member added: “It is significant... We need to be looking at health and life opportunities and drill down what is causing it.”

And in Calderdale while the average number of healthy years a resident can expect is the same, the gap is wider.

If you’re a woman from just south of Halifax town centre you’ll enjoy 69 healthy years, compared to 49 for women born west of the town centre.

The Office for National Statistics study found that an area of ultra-wealthy Chelsea had the country’s highest healthy life expectancy, where a man can expect 80 years of rude health.

However, the study found that in the deprived area of Sparkbrook, Birmingham, a female resident can expected just 46 healthy years.

A Kirklees Council spokesperson said: “Through local surveys as well as national information, the council is aware that there are areas in Kirklees where there are higher levels of poverty and deprivation. This can cause disadvantage across the life course and in turn lead to a lower healthy life expectancy.

“We are committed to tackling the effects of poverty and supporting people to achieve healthier lifestyles, eg by supporting them to have a good food diet and by engaging communities in physical activity and sport. We also provide advice and support around recommended drink limits and help to stop smoking.

“We target our work to ensure that we help those with the greatest need – this includes tackling food poverty, deprivation and improving people’s wellbeing and quality of life.

“This involves reducing social isolation and older people loneliness, and supporting people to self-care, for example through My Health Tools, which is an online tool for people in Kirklees living with long term health conditions. A large part of our work is promoting emotional health and wellbeing and working with key partners in housing etc – as none of this work can be seen in isolation.”

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