Case for Change

Life expectancy had stalled across Grampian since before the pandemic. For men this is now 78 years.Although life expectancy for women is higher at 82 years, they spend nearly twenty years of their lives 
in poor health. This deteriorating picture of health is similar to the trend observed in Scotland, and is worse for our most vulnerable communities. Women living in the most deprived areas in Grampian have an average life expectancy that is 6.2 years lower than women in the least deprived areas. For men, this difference is 8.3 years. Across Scotland, people in the poorest areas spend more of their life in poorer health than their peers in the wealthiest areas.

Our healthcare system continues to be under acute pressure and our ability to continue to deliver safe, expectancy:expectancy:effective, person centred, and sustainable care is under threat. Scotland’s and Grampian’s health is also 66 to 70 facing other emerging threats from new infectious diseases, climate change and the rising cost of living years.All of this will also contribute to worsening health and demand for health and care.

The current delivery model of health and care is not sustainable. Advances in medical technology and the successes of our health and care system mean that we can treat more conditions and prolong life. However, changes in how we live mean that more people are experiencing ill-health, they are getting sick with conditions like diabetes and hypertension at an earlier age, and many are living with more than one health condition (multi-morbidity).