Riddled with drug deaths, alcohol abuse and sexually transmitted infections, the dark side of Brighton and Hove’s laid-back party-friendly lifestyle has come home to roost.

That is the diagnosis of the city’s top doctor in a shock bill of health for its inhabitants.

Dr Tom Scanlon’s report reveals how rates of ill-health are on the rise across the city but with poorer areas more badly affected than others.

He attributes much of the problem to the fact the city is a Mecca for young people, students and party-goers who flock here to drink, take drugs and be promiscuous.

He said: “Brighton and Hove has got a much younger population than the rest of the country and its health profile follows that, with higher rates of substance and alcohol misuse, sexual health problems and more teenage pregnancies.

“It is a fun place to be and that attracts certain groups to the city, such as students for nights out, which all impact on its population’s health.”


A disturbing examination of Brighton and Hove’s citizens has revealed a postcode lottery of health in the city.

It showed people living in one part of the city were 25% more likely to suffer and die from serious diseases than those living elsewhere.

Dr Tom Scanlon, director for public health for Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust, gave the findings in his report to the city’s health overview committee. Its aim was to set out the picture of health inequality in Brighton and Hove which will be used to plan health services for the future.

Among the stark findings made by Dr Scanlon and his team is a table outlining the number of chronic diseases in the city, how many people died from them and where they are most likely to occur.

Cases of bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, cancer and diabetes were collated for the city and its three areas – central, east and west.

It painted a bleak picture of health for people living in the east of the city, who were almost 25% more likely to contract one of the diseases than people living in the central zone. While those in the west were 20% more likely to contract such a disease than in the central area.

The report showed 125.5 people in every 1,000 living in east Brighton would develop one of the chronic diseases. The figure dropped to 120.1 for those in the west and fell further to 101.6 for those in the city centre.

In his report, Dr Scanlon claims the reason for this disparity is that the higher mortality rates for cancer and coronary heart disease were found in areas of deprivation because of smoking levels and other variations in lifestyle.

But he said when the figures were assessed more closely, they showed areas of deprivation were found all over the city and not just in particular areas.

In order to improve people’s health, Dr Scanlon said more bespoke services were needed to target these particular areas.

Life expectancy was also assessed. Moulsecoomb, Bevendean and Queen’s Park had the lowest rates.

Rottingdean, Withdean and Patcham had the highest.

Dr Scanlon said: “Life expectancy is improving across the board and the gap between men and women is narrowing.

“What is unique to Brighton and Hove is that it is widening between the poor and the wealthy.”

Celia Barlow, MP for Hove said: “This shows how important it is to raise standards of living. That Dr Scanlon has tied in health and longevity with deprivation shows how important it is to have targeted help to areas of need and it also shows how important it is Hove and Portslade get an equal share of any facilities and money available in the city.”

  • Tom Scanlon will be in the hotseat for The Argus’s Friday Inquisition. Put your questions to him online at www.theargus.co.uk/fridayinquisition this Friday from 12.30pm to 1.30pm.

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