How healthy is Wiltshire?

According to profiles published by the Department of Health Wiltshire residents generally have better health than the average Englishman and woman. Life expectancy is above average, and the number of people dying early from heart disease, cancer and stokes is diminishing.

However there are area of deprivation within the county where life expectancy is significantly lower than in the more affluent areas (6 fewer years for men and 4 fewer years for women), and 11,120 children in the county are classified as living in poverty.

About one sixth of children are too fat, and there are still 20% of the population who smoke. Despite all the evidence of the harm it causes, 15% of mothers smoke during pregnancy.

Wiltshire also suffers from a road traffic accident casualty rate which is much higher than the national average.

The health profiles also consider how the success rates of children and school varies with ethnicity. Mixed race children are the most successful, but black children do less well, both in relation to other ethnic groups and also when Wiltshire's black children are compared with those in other parts of the country.

For details see www.healthprofiles.info

'Source: Department of Health. ©Crown Copyright 2011'.