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Written question asked by Darren Paffey (Labour) on Thursday, 25 July 2024, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 29 July 2024. It was answered by Andrew Gwynne (Labour) on Thursday, 1 August 2024 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Health: Southampton Itchen

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of health inequalities in Southampton Itchen constituency; and what steps he plans to take to tackle those inequalities.

Answer

As part of our health mission, the Government is committed to ensuring that people live well for longer. This includes tackling the determinants that underpin stark health inequalities, to halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions.

Southampton has 19 Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) within the 10% of the most deprived in England. Of the 317 local authorities in England, Southampton is ranked 55th most deprived, based on the average rank of the LSOAs, and 61st most deprived based on the average score of the LSOAs. There has been very little change in relative deprivation levels in Southampton, compared to other local authorities in England, since the last Index of Multiple Deprivation published in 2015. Of the five most deprived neighbourhoods in Southampton, four are within the Southampton Itchen constituency.

Local authorities, both upper tier and unitary, are responsible for commissioning drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services as part of their public health responsibilities, for which Southampton has been allocated £2,069,974 for 2024/25. For those who are also homeless, just over £800,000 has been made available to provide wraparound support and treatment.

Southampton Itchen is one of 75 local authorities with high levels of deprivation receiving funding to improve outcomes for families with babies, as part of the £300 million Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme. The Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Southampton includes an ambition to significantly improve health and wellbeing outcomes, and reduce citywide health inequalities by 2025. It recognises the importance of addressing the wider determinants of health, the conditions into which people are born, live, work, and age. Southampton is also a key member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Partnership, working collectively to tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience, and access for the local population.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
1847
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Disadvantaged Health Southampton Itchen
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk