Women in Plymouth enjoy fewer years 'in health' compared with other areas
Today we're looking at the inequalities women in Plymouth can face
Today we're reporting on the inequalities some women face in Plymouth.
In the city women are expected to reach the UK average age of 82, but their 'healthy' life expectancy is only 55 years - which is below average.
Professor Steve Maddern is the city's Director of Public Health, said: "What this basically means is that women across the city live long lives, but they could spend up to 27 years in ill health - that's the challenge that we've got."
He added: "We have challenges across the city in regard to things like deprivation.
"For women in particular, and girls, we know can often put themselves last by being workers, carers, partners etc.
"They often cited that having access to services was one issue but then not having a good quality experience when they did access services was also another issue as well.
"There are some really shocking statistics about women’s health in Plymouth, which is why I’ve chosen to focus my annual report entirely on this important issue.
“This is a call to action for the city – there is a huge amount of work to be done to improve access to women’s healthcare and to make Plymouth a safer place for women and girls, where they are supported to live healthy, safe and fulfilling lives.”
The report, discussed at Plymouth City Council's Cabinet meeting, highlights the 'challenges women face in accessing appropriate healthcare, as well as lower-than-average uptake of key preventative healthcare measures such as the HPV vaccination, which raises concern about cancer protection'.
It adds: "Violence against women and girls is a concern, with 36,000 women in the city likely to be subjected to at least one form of harassment in a year and more girls than boys reporting harmful experiences online."
The report also highlights the economic differences between men and women living in Plymouth, with more young women not in work or education than their male peers. Eighty per cent of women employed in the city also earn below the national median salary.
What have charities said?
Plymouth homelessness charity Path highlights what it calls 'the often hidden link between domestic abuse and women’s homelessness in Plymouth'.
The charity says it is 'urging local services and the public to recognise that leaving an abusive relationship too often means entering into a housing crisis – and that for many women, homelessness is not just a result of poverty but a consequence of violence'.
In July, Path co-ordinated Plymouth’s Women’s Homeless Census as part of Solace’s national research initiative to capture the lived experiences of women facing housing insecurity and homelessness.1 This marked the city’s first participation in the census, alongside more than 80 local authorities across England, gathering vital insights into women’s experiences of rough sleeping and hidden homelessness.
The findings revealed the complex realities of women’s homelessness, including those fleeing abuse.
Between July and September, Path and partner organisations in the city including, Trevi, Shekinah, The Soup Run, BCHA - George House and Hospital Discharge Team, PCC Outreach team, the Job Centre and the Zone, identified 85 women sleeping rough in Plymouth—more than double the number previously counted.
Plymouth City Council reports that the city experiences a high prevalence of domestic abuse, with the number of reported incidents continuing to rise over the past five years. Domestic abuse now accounts for around 27% of all violent crime in Plymouth, compared with a national average of 16%. In 2020/21 alone, there were 6,933 domestic abuse crimes and incidents reported to the police -an increase of 21 per cent on the previous year
What has the Government said?
The National Plan to End Homelessness, announced overnight, has three key pledges to be achieved by the end of this parliament – to halve the number of long-term rough sleepers, end the unlawful use of B&Bs for families and prevent more households from becoming homeless in the first place. It will be underpinned by clear, ambitious goals for lasting change, including a duty on public services to work together to prevent homelessness, a boost to the supply of good-quality temporary homes, and £3.5 billion - a £1 billion funding boost over and above previous commitments - to support rough sleeping and support services.