Wokingham crowned as the healthiest place to live in the UK

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) Health Index Data has given Wokingham an overall health score of 110, putting it to the top of the list.

Health scores were collated by the ONS and financial services company Lane Clark & Peacock.

They were found by combining different health factors in every area such as dementia, cancer, alcohol misuse and adult obesity.

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Three other towns in Berkshire have also received top scores for health, placing them as the top healthiest places in the country.

Wokingham - 110.1

Windsor and Maidenhead - 107

West Berkshire - 106.1

Bracknell Forest - 105.9

Buckinghamshire -105.3

The most deprived local authority is Blackpool at 86.4.

The health index shows the depression level in England's least healthiest place scored (51.0 in Blackpool) in comparison to Wokingham which scored 95.2 in Wokingham.

The south east average score is 102.5, with London at 101.0.

Some of Wokingham's lowest scores include: air pollution (82.1), transport noise (90.9), road safety (90.8), homelessness (86).

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Analysis of the data shows that overall wellbeing and mortality have seen slight improvements, but these have been cancelled out by worsening mental and physical health morbidity.

There are also substantial geographic differences and a clear North / South divide within England.

LCP’s analysis shows that the South-East of England (102.5) and London (101.0) were the healthiest regions while the North-East (95.9) and North-West (97.4) were the least healthy.

Dr Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard, head of LCP’s Health Analytics team, said: “This data is being published at a crucial time for the nation’s health as the NHS is stretched to deal with the impact of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The numbers reveal clear and substantial differences across England and should be a wake-up call to the Government to deliver on its manifesto pledge to level up regional inequalities. While there is some encouragement to be had from slight improvements in measures related to wellbeing and mortality, these have been cancelled out by worsening mental and physical health morbidity. These may have deteriorated further as a result of Covid-19.

"“Being able to identify the components that account for the variations in the index over time and across populations, both by geography and deprivation, provides the opportunity to take a data-driven approach to investing in communities and build back better in 2021.”