Residents in county ‘less likely to die early’ figures say

RESIDENTS in East Sussex are less likely to die prematurely from disease than those living in other parts of the country, new figures have revealed.

Statistics published on Public Health England’s Longer Lives website, set up to show how mortality rates vary between local authorities, put the county among the top areas for low rates of premature death.

The figures, for 2009-2011, relate to the number of residents who have died under the age of 75 from cancer, heart disease and stroke, lung disease and liver disease. For overall premature death rates, East Sussex was ranked 48th out of 150 local authorities and considered among the ‘best’ for low mortality rates.

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Dr Diana Grice, ESCC’s director of public health, said: “Although people living in East Sussex have low rates of premature mortality there is still a 13 year variation in life expectancy between the wards with the highest and lowest life expectancy in the county. These statistics are helpful in identifying which areas of public health need to be addressed to drive down the numbers of premature deaths. There is still more that can be done to reduce preventable deaths.”