A cross-party group of MPs has launched an inquiry into the reasons behind higher levels of disease and falling life expectancy in men.
The House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee is seeking written submissions for the inquiry, particularly any that shed a light on whether, or why, men might be more reluctant to seek help for their health.
This is a timely focus by the committee, especially given views aired by local Healthwatch at a recent regional London meeting, hosted by André Benham and attended by HWE leadership team and policy staff. We heard a call from you that our renewed strategic focus on health inequalities should also encompass goals to increase feedback from men, particularly younger, working class males.
Announcing the inquiry this week, the committee highlighted concerns that:
- men face a 37% higher risk of dying from cancer
- 75% of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease are in men
- four in five suicides are by men, with suicide the biggest cause of death for men under 35
- life expectancy for men is 79, compared with 83 for women.
“It may be that men just don’t come forward with health issues, perhaps they think some things are too embarrassing to talk about. We’ll be looking at what needs to be done, whether it’s about how to access health services or getting more men to come forward for screening for example.”
Steve Brine
Committee chair and Winchester MP
