Newly released figures have shown there is a gap of nearly nine years in the life expectancy for a newborn baby boy in South Cambridgeshire compared to Blackpool.

The statistics for 2011–13, showed South Cambridgeshire had the highest in the country at 83 years while Blackpool had the lowest at 74.3 years.
Life expectancy at birth and at age 65 increased at a faster pace in London, the North East and the North West compared with other regions between 2007–09 and 2011–13, the Office for National Statistics reported.
In 2011–13, approximately 32% of local areas in the East, 43% in the South East and 28% in the South West were in the fifth of areas with the highest male life expectancy at birth.

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In contrast, there was no local area in the North East and Wales in this group. A similar pattern was observed for females. Life expectancy was higher for women than men across all regions in each period examined.
In 2011–13 the gender inequality in life expectancy was greatest in London (4.1 years) and smallest in the East of England (3.4 years).
Explaining some of the trends, the ONS report stated: "Studies have shown that the selective migration of healthy individuals from poorer health areas into better health areas as well as socioeconomic, environmental (including working conditions), educational and lifestyle factors are largely responsible for the excess mortality and consequently lower life expectancy in northern regions compared with those in the south.
"Nevertheless, life expectancy continues to increase at a faster pace in the northern regions and in London than the other southern regions.
"One possible explanation is the varying rate of decrease in deaths from avoidable causes across English regions. Since 2001, the greatest reduction in deaths rates for potentially avoidable causes such as certain cancers, respiratory and heart disease have been seen in the North East, North West and London."

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