Life expectancy is at the highest level ever, deaths from cancer, heart disease and stroke are falling, and infant mortality is at its lowest level ever according to the Health Profile of England 2007, published by the Department of Health.
• Increasing life expectancy, now at its highest ever level.
• Mortality rates from cancers and circulatory diseases are declining.
• Infant mortality has reduced and is now at its lowest ever level.
• The number of people smoking is decreasing and the number of smoking attributable deaths is decreasing.
• The quality of housing stock, an important health determinant, is improving.
In addition, early death from the two biggest killers, circulatory disease and cancer, are reducing faster in England than the average for the EU.
However, regional health inequalities still exist and rates of obesity, diabetes and alcohol related hospital admissions are rising.
