WEST Dunbartonshire has one of the worst average healthy life expectancies in the country, new figures have revealed.

Healthy life expectancy is described by the UK Government as 'the average number of years that an individual is expected to live in a state of self-assess good or very good health, based on current mortality rates and prevelance of good or very good health'.

Statistics released by National Records of Scotland (NRS) have shown that healthy life expectancy has fallen across Scotland on average, with the average healthy life expectancy at birth for males being 61.7 years and 61.9 for females.

In West Dunbartonshire, the figures are worse – with the average healthy life expectancy for males being 59.1 years, making it the 7th worst council area in the country, and 60.6 years for females – the 9th worst in the country.

The gap between the highest average healthy life expectancy in East Dunbartonshire – 69.8 years - and West Dunbartonshire is 10.7 years, showing a significant gap in between the most and least deprived areas of the country.

Glasgow was the worst place to be for men – with healthy life expectancy at 54.6 years and North Ayrshire the worst place to be as a woman, with expectancy at 56.3 years.

Brian Sloan, chief executive of Age Scotland, the national charity for older people, said: “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.

“We want to see Scotland as the best place to grow older and increasing Healthy Life Expectancy is part of this.”

Martin Docherty Hughes, West Dunbartonshire MP, commented: “The pandemic has highlighted the deep-seated health and wealth inequalities in our communities and these figures underline once again the costs of Tory austerity.

"The NRS report examines healthy life expectancy rather than overall life expectancy.

"However, it's clear that generational poverty in West Dunbartonshire and other deprived areas across the UK continues to limit the life chances of too many.

"Westminster has failed to address the inequalities which blight our communities, and the UK government's plans to further raise the pension age, undermine workers' rights, and cut social security can only make matters worse.

"Scotland's efforts to tackle the root causes of inequality will continue to be blunted without the full powers of a normal independent country."

Beth Culshaw, chief officer of West Dunbartonshire HSCP, added: “Improving health and reducing inequalities are key priorities for Community Planning Partners who lead and co-ordinate this work.

“The wide range of services accessible across West Dunbartonshire provide localised strategic support to address issues including drug and alcohol misuse, smoking, obesity and inactivity.

“Regular initiatives promoting physical activity and encouraging residents to use our numerous excellent sport and leisure facilities underpins our commitment to improving the general health of our community.

“These efforts - working in tandem with the council’s complementary strategies to improve housing, education, social inclusion and tackling poverty - are all dedicated to addressing inequality and improving lives with the people of West Dunbartonshire.”