UPDATE - Issue 38 - Autumn 2009
Postcode lottery odds lengthen for poorer constituencies
New figures from the Office of National Statistics show men in some areas of England are five times more likely to die from prostate cancer than others, with the gap between the best and worst performing parts of the country increasing by 45%.
Men living near Tottenham High Road face inequalities
At least 96 of England’s 529 parliamentary constituencies have a death rate from prostate cancer more than 25% above the England average (25 deaths per 100,000 population) with men in Tottenham almost five times more likely to die of prostate cancer than men in South East Cambridgeshire.
The Prostate Cancer Charter for Action group also found that areas of the country failing to implement key guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) had a mortality rate 4% higher than those that had.
" Inequalities are still linked to socio-economic factors "
Sadly, as reported in the Summer 2004 issue of Update, it would appear that the inequalities are still linked to socio-economic factors with Leeds West, Bury North and Wallasey among the worst performing constituencies and Cheltenham and Kensington and Chelsea among the best. The figures show the gap between the highest and lowest prostate cancer mortality rates in England was 31 per 100,000 population in 2006, but by 2007 (the latest year for which figures are available) the gap had increased to 45 per 100,000 population.
Chief Executive of Prostate UK, Amanda McLean said: ‘The lack of consistency in patient care across the country is worrying. This postcode lottery element seriously undermines great improvements in other areas to give men and their families the support and information they need.’
If you would like a copy of the figures for your constituency, email update@prostateuk.org or call Gareth Ellis-Thomas on 020 8788 7720.