Avoidable death rate in Barnet lower than London average

There were 1,718 avoidable deaths in Barnet between 2020 and 2022, reports Marieta Marinova, Data Reporter

Barnet has a lower rate of preventable deaths than the London average, new figures show.

With almost a quarter of all deaths in England and Wales in 2022 considered preventable, the King’s Fund think tank said preventable conditions have “devastating consequences for individuals, families, communities and the economy”.

Avoidable mortality is defined as deaths caused by either preventable or treatable health conditions for those under 75. These can be avoided by effective and timely public health interventions.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that there were 1,718 avoidable deaths in Barnet between 2020 and 2022, with 68% of these considered preventable.

The area had a rate of 196 preventable deaths per 100,000 people – up from 153 in 2017-19, before the pandemic.

This was lower than the London average of 249 and one of the lowest rates in the capital.

The North West had the highest rate and the most preventable deaths recorded at 310 and 61,503, while the South West had the lowest rate at 211.

Veena Raleigh, senior research fellow at the King’s Fund, said: “The cut of a quarter in public health budgets in 2015-16, which fell hardest on people living in the most deprived areas of England, illustrates the government’s failure to give proper priority to improvement. health and disease prevention in areas where people have the worst health.

“UK healthcare services are also falling short compared to international peers, and key health outcomes are worse – strong evidence that Britain is also doing badly in terms of treating people.”

In 2022, 22% of all deaths across all ages in England and Wales were considered avoidable – down from 24% in 2021.

Kathryn Marszalek, senior analytics manager at the Health Foundation, said: “Although avoidable death rates have declined since 2021, they are still higher than pre-pandemic levels.

“However, this will still include the many deaths from Covid in 2022.”

The ONS said cancer was the leading cause of avoidable death in 2022, but had fallen steadily since 2001, while the death rate for alcohol and drug-related deaths continued to rise.

Marszalek said: “The next government faces an uphill challenge in improving population health and reducing inequalities.

“Improving health requires long-term cross-government action, from providing good quality jobs and housing to investing in wider public services and ensuring that everyone has equitable access to health care services.”

Men had a higher rate of preventable deaths in every area of ​​the country. In Barnet it was 252 and 146 for the ladies.

Raleigh said that without a significant focus on improving the nation’s well-being, political aspirations for economic growth are unlikely to be realized.

“Preventing ill health and reducing premature death is certainly one of the greatest challenges of our time, and although political parties have set out some measures to improve public health, such as committing to a smoke-free generation, none of them have matches the scale of reform needed. to bring about serious change,” she added.

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