Disappointing decrease in Scottish Healthy Life Expectancy

News from the National Records of Scotland that Healthy Life Expectancy has decreased in the last few years (2017-19) has been branded as disappointing by Age Scotland.

The national charity for older people also says it demonstrates the need for long term investment in preventing ill health and tackling poverty as the gap between the most and least deprived areas is staggeringly high.

Figures published today (25 January) show that for years 2017-19 the average Healthy Life Expectancy for women is 61.9 and 61.7 for men. The gap between the most and least deprived areas of Scotland is 25.1 years for men and 21.5 years for women.

Age Scotland also believes that the negative effect COVID-19 restrictions have had on lifestyles and the pause on various health services will impact future years.

Age Scotland’s chief executive, Brian Sloan said:

“These figures are really disappointing and come on the back of news last year that overall life expectancy has stalled. Of course, we would have hoped to see Healthy Life Expectancy in Scotland increasing but we must face the facts and redouble efforts to address this. The gap between people in the most and least deprived areas is staggeringly high and shows that much more needs to be done to reduce poverty and increase people’s quality of life.

“Preventing ill health in the first instance clearly needs more of a focus and investment especially as these figures don't take into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns which will almost certainly exacerbate this issue in the next few years.

“It’s so important for people in the short term, but also in the long term as Scotland’s rapidly ageing population, who will on average be spending a greater proportion of their life in poor health, will then likely need more and more support from the NHS and social care. We want to see Scotland as the best place to grow older and increasing Healthy Life Expectancy is part of this.”