The part of the country where you’re most likely to die a ‘preventable’ death – are you in an unlucky area?

Blackpool residents are most likely to die an avoidable death, compared to any other area in England and Wales, official data reveals.

Those in the North West region have more than twice the average chance of falling victim to life-threateningly poor cancer care, or fatal levels of alcohol intake — deaths that are classed as ‘preventable’.

In comparison, those living in the Hampshire district of Hart had the lowest rate of avoidable deaths; nearly four times fewer than Blackpool’s figure, the Office for National Statistics found.

High avoidable death rates are seen as a damming indication of a population’s general health as well as a sign that patients are struggling to access timely care.    

The average national rate of such deaths was 238 deaths per 100,000 people in England, and 277 deaths per 100,000 in Wales in 2023. 

This equates to just over one in five deaths recorded in both nations as being avoidable. 

In Blackpool, the figure stood at 476 avoidable deaths per 100,000 people.

In real terms, this meant 1,900 people in the Blackpool area died from entirely preventable or treatable health conditions in 2023.  

But figures were even more dire for men in Blackpool, with males in the area having avoidable death rate of 597 per 100,000 men. 

Second for overall deaths was Manchester at 396 deaths per 100,000, followed by Kingston upon Hull in Yorkshire at 388 deaths. 

In contrast, Hart had just 132 deaths per 100,000. This represented just 353 such fatalities. 

The ONS noted that areas in the north of England typically had the highest rates of avoidable mortality, about 40 per cent higher compared those in the south. 

The statistics body also highlighted that poorer areas had avoidable death rates nearly four times higher than wealthy ones.

Other ONS data show cancer remained the biggest single cause of avoidable death, above heart disease and lung conditions.

In contrast to declining cancer deaths, the ONS found alcohol and drug related fatalities have continued to increase over time, particularly from 2019 onwards. 

Earlier this year, the body warned there had been almost 10,500 deaths from alcohol-specific causes in the UK in 2023.

This represented a 38 per cent rise compared to 2019, and the fourth consecutive annual increase in the death toll. 

Some experts say the figure is a consequence of the Covid lockdown and social isolation fuelling unhealthy drinking habits that have continued post-pandemic.

Greg Ceely, the ONS’s head of population health monitoring, said the data demonstrated several disparities in avoidable deaths England and Wales. 

‘It continues to be higher in the most deprived communities, amongst men, and in the northern regions of England,’ he said. 

‘These disparities are also seen in the rise in alcohol and drugs related avoidable mortality. 

‘Whilst it has steadily increased since 2001, in 2023 the highest rates are found among men living in the most deprived areas.’

He added that, overall, the data showed avoidable deaths had yet to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels. 

‘We found that whilst avoidable mortality initially fell after a rise during the Covid-19 pandemic, the rates have not fallen further this year, so avoidable mortality remains higher than pre-pandemic rates.’

Experts have attributed higher death rates recorded during the pandemic to a combination of the virus and a disruption to healthcare during the lockdowns.

This lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment for conditions like cancer and heart disease. 

Ongoing problems with the NHS, such as ambulance delays and treatment backlogs, have been partly blamed for excess death levels failing to return to pre-pandemic norms. 

Reacting to the data, Anna Gazzillo, senior analytical manager at thinktank the Health Foundation, said the ONS figures were a reminder of the depth of inequality across the country and what was needed to tackle it. 

‘Avoidable deaths are not just statistics; they are a stark reminder that too many lives are cut short unnecessarily,’ she said. 

‘They reflect real failures in preventing illness and providing timely care. 

‘There is an urgent need for the government to make good on its commitment to reduce unacceptable health inequalities and tackle the root causes of ill health.’

The Department of Health and Social Care was contacted for comment.