Choose an area to see how different aspects of health have changed. The topics shown are selected based on rules pre-programmed by ONS staff and the text is generated using semi-automated journalism.

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Ribble Valley has the highest Health Index score across England

Ribble Valley's Health Index score increased in the year before the coronavirus pandemic.

112.9

Ribble Valley has an overall Health Index score of 112.9, which is up 1.6 points compared with the previous year.

1st

The area is ranked most healthy out of 307 local authority areas in England, according to newly released data from 2019.

Health in Ribble Valley is strongest among measures relating to the "children and young people" subdomain

Health Index values for each subdomain in Ribble Valley, 2019
Source: Office for National Statistics – Health Index for England

Ribble Valley's highest score across all subdomains is 122.7 for health relating to "children and young people".

"Children and young people" looks at early years development, pupil absences, pupil attainment, teenage pregnancy, and young people in education, employment and apprenticeships.

The second highest scoring subdomain is "physical health conditions", while Ribble Valley's worst score is for "access to services".

Ribble Valley's score for health relating to "physical health conditions" is above the average across England

Health Index values for the "physical health conditions" subdomain across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, 2019
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Source: Office for National Statistics – Health Index for England

"Physical health conditions" addresses cancer, cardiovascular conditions, dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, musculoskeletal conditions, and respiratory conditions.

Ribble Valley's score for "physical health conditions" improved from 119.2 in 2015 to 121.2 in 2019. This means Ribble Valley remained in the top 2% across England for this subdomain.

The change was largely driven by a decrease in cancer (the index improved by 6.1 points) and a decrease in diabetes (the index improved by 3.8 points). However, there was also an increase in musculoskeletal conditions (the index worsened by 3.2 points).

Ribble Valley has the North West's second highest score for health relating to "living conditions"

Health Index values for the "living conditions" subdomain across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, 2019
Source: Office for National Statistics – Health Index for England

"Living conditions" looks at air pollution, household overcrowding, noise complaints, road safety, and rough sleeping.

Between 2015 and 2019, Ribble Valley's Health Index value for "living conditions" went from 113.5 to 119.6. This means Ribble Valley remained in the top 1% for this subdomain.

The change was largely driven by a decrease in rough sleeping (the index improved by 26.5 points) and a decrease in air pollution (the index improved by 7.2 points). However, there was a decline in road safety (a decrease of 0.4).

Ribble Valley's score for health relating to "difficulties in daily life" is above the average across England

Health Index values for the "difficulties in daily life" subdomain across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, 2019
Source: Office for National Statistics – Health Index for England

"Difficulties in daily life" addresses disability and frailty.

Ribble Valley's score for "difficulties in daily life" improved from 112.0 in 2015 to 117.2 in 2019. This means Ribble Valley went from being in the top 10% to being in the top 3% across England for this subdomain.

The change was largely driven by a decrease in frailty (the index improved by 6.0 points) and a decrease in disability (the index improved by 4.4 points).