FAMILIES in the more affluent areas of Southend can expect to live more than a decade longer than those in more deprived parts of the borough, latest figures have revealed.

And the borough has higher than average early deaths from cancer and breathing-related diseases.

A joint strategic needs report for 2019/20, to be considered by Southend Council’s health and wellbeing committee, also shows 19 per cent of Southend’s children live in poverty – compared to 14 per cent in the eastern region.

It states: “There is an increasing life expectancy gap within our communities of 11 to 12 years, with large pockets of disadvantaged communities.”

“Southend has higher rates of premature and preventable mortality for cancer and respiratory disease and higher excess winter deaths than the national average.

“Early identification of disease remains concerning with lower uptake rates for several national screening programmes and some key lifestyle factors rate amongst the worst nationally, including teenage conception rates and tobacco and alcohol use.”

Trevor Harp, councillor responsible for health and adult social care, is concerned.

He said: “Wards that have lower life expectancy tend to be more densely populated areas.

“Population density in Westborough ward has reached that of an inner London borough.

“People have differing lifestyles than more affluent areas, where people are able to attend gyms.

“This is something we are trying to address with GPs prescribing activities for individuals.”

The new figures show all Southend residents have a lower life expectancy and suffer deprivation in a wide-ranging number of areas.

Men can currently expect to live to 78.7 years compared to 80.4 in the East of England. Meanwhile Southend women are living for an average of 82.4 years compared to 83.7 in the region.

The gloomy forecast also shows 68 per cent of Southend residents are overweight or obese compared to 62 per cent regionally.

There were 6,393 emergency hospital admissions compared to 5,246 across the east and under 75s mortality rates for cancer per 100,000 of the population stood at 146 in Southend and 126 in the East of England.

Excess winter deaths for the over 85s were 60 per cent in Southend against 41 per cent in the region.