Dundee West Labour
15 August 2019
Commenting on official figures released today that reveal that life expectancy in Scotland has stalled, Scottish Labour Public Health Spokesperson David Stewart MSP said:
“It’s shameful that life expectancy of both men and women in Scotland has slowed down and now fallen.
“Not only does Scotland have the lowest life expectancy rates of any part of the UK, the life expectancy gap between the richest and the poorest is growing - it cannot be right that those living in the richest areas can also expect to live in good health for over 20 years longer than those in poorest areas.
“That rising numbers of drugs deaths are contributing to falling life expectancy is also troubling. Scottish Labour has been clear that the drugs deaths crisis needs urgent action and is calling on the SNP to legally designate a public health emergency.
“The SNP government has failed to tackle intolerable health inequalities after over a decade in power. We need action to reverse this trend, and a Scottish Labour government will invest in our people, communities and public services to build a Scotland that works for the many, not just the wealthy few.”
Commenting on official figures released today that reveal that life expectancy in Scotland has stalled, Scottish Labour Public Health Spokesperson David Stewart MSP said:
“It’s shameful that life expectancy of both men and women in Scotland has slowed down and now fallen.
“Not only does Scotland have the lowest life expectancy rates of any part of the UK, the life expectancy gap between the richest and the poorest is growing - it cannot be right that those living in the richest areas can also expect to live in good health for over 20 years longer than those in poorest areas.
“That rising numbers of drugs deaths are contributing to falling life expectancy is also troubling. Scottish Labour has been clear that the drugs deaths crisis needs urgent action and is calling on the SNP to legally designate a public health emergency.
“The SNP government has failed to tackle intolerable health inequalities after over a decade in power. We need action to reverse this trend, and a Scottish Labour government will invest in our people, communities and public services to build a Scotland that works for the many, not just the wealthy few.”