Inequality

There are inequalities in life expectancy, but also dramatic inequalities in disability-free life expectancy (the length of life free from a limiting persistent illness or disability).

According to ONS statistics, Richmond upon Thames in south west London has the highest disability-free life expectancy at birth, 70.3 years for men and 71.8 years for women, while Liverpool has the lowest, 56.0 years for men and 57.5 years for women: “Males born in Liverpool are expected to live a quarter of their shorter lives with a disability, while Richmond upon Thames males can expect to live only a seventh of their longer lives with a disability”, ONS said.

The 2010 Marmot Strategic review of health inequalities in England highlighted what it called the “social gradient”, which basically means that the lower a person’s social position, the worse his or her health. The union-backed 68 is too late campaign says the most deprived 40% of the population spend on average 25%-30% of their retirement with a serious health problem, and 45% with a disability (www.68istoolate.org.uk).

The implications of later retirement are being scrutinised in the public sector where pension age will in future be linked to the rising State Pension Age. The risks of longer working lives are being investigated on a tripartite basis in the NHS. The issue of retirement at 60 rather than 55 and the threat of “no-job-no-pension” capability dismissals has provoked industrial action in the fire service.