Healthy life expectancy measures how many years people can expect to live in good health, rather than simply how long they live.
While healthy life expectancy has fallen in many parts of the country, Wolverhampton has seen an improvement and is no longer significantly different from the England average.
Figures for 2022 to 2024 show that healthy life expectancy for men in Wolverhampton rose to 59.2 years, up from 57.6 years in 2021 to 2023. For women, it increased to 58.3 years, compared with 56.7 years in the previous period. Wolverhampton also had the largest increase in healthy life expectancy of any of the 13 West Midlands councils.
These improvements provide encouraging evidence that people in the city are feeling better about their health, with work underway by the City of Wolverhampton Council and partners to improve health outcomes, including a focus on prevention, early intervention and tackling inequalities.
Successful initiatives such as community based liver scanning programmes, alongside health improvement support delivered through trusted local venues including places of worship, libraries and barbershops, are helping people access support earlier and overcome barriers to care.
But improving healthy life expectancy is about more than lifestyle change - it also depends on improving factors such as employment, education, income, housing and the environment, all of which have seen improvements in Wolverhampton in recent years.
The progress is particularly significant given the wider national picture. Healthy life expectancy across the UK has declined overall.
Council leader Councillor Stephen Simkins said: "This is very welcome news for Wolverhampton and a positive reflection of the progress being made across our city.
"Healthy life expectancy is not just about living longer, it's about living longer in good health, and these figures show that more people in Wolverhampton feel in good health, and are able to enjoy healthier lives for longer.
"At a time when many parts of the country are seeing healthy life expectancy fall, it is encouraging that Wolverhampton is bucking the national trend. This achievement belongs to the whole city and reflects the combined efforts of our residents, communities and organisations working together to improve health and wellbeing.
"It also demonstrates the importance of our long term commitment to tackling health inequalities and improving the wider factors that influence health, including housing, good neighbourhoods, education, employment and the environment.
“There is still more to do, but these figures give us real confidence that we are moving in the right direction. We know that strong communities play a vital role in helping people live healthier lives, which is why we remain committed to expanding opportunities and support in neighbourhoods across our city."
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, added: "While we are pleased with the progress being made, we cannot be complacent. Too many people still experience preventable ill health and there remain significant differences in health outcomes across our city.
"Improving healthy life expectancy does not happen overnight. We have taken a clear long term approach, supported by strong partnerships across the city, and we are starting to see the results of that work.
"We have seen great success through innovative programmes such as delivering free liver scanning and other services in community venues, our Live Well Wolverhampton weight loss and stop smoking initiatives, and work to increase uptake of free NHS Health Checks.
"We also know that many residents were able to develop healthier habits through the Better Health: Rewards pilot, helping people make positive changes that can have a lasting impact on their health.
"Improving the health and wellbeing of our residents remains a key priority for the council. We are committed to building on this momentum so that more residents, in every part of Wolverhampton, can enjoy healthier and longer lives."
