Select a region
21% of all deaths between 2019 and 2021 were avoidable, according to the recently released mortality report published by Public Health’s intelligence team.
Avoidable deaths are those that are either preventable or treatable according to Public Health. Preventable deaths are deaths that could’ve been avoided by different individual behaviours or public health measures.
Treatable deaths could’ve been avoided with timely health care intervention.
During the period of 2019 to 2021 inclusive there were 356 avoidable deaths. A notably higher proportion of those deaths were among males.
“Of the 356 deaths considered avoidable, 102 (29%) were considered treatable and 254 (71%) preventable,” said Public Health.
220 male deaths were considered avoidable over the latest three-year period and constitutes 25% of all male deaths in Guernsey.
This compares to 136 female deaths that were considered avoidable. The ratio between men and women has remained fairly stable over time.
This inequality has been commented on by the Head of Public Health, Jenny Cataroche, who said: “Knowing that this inequality exists means that further questions can be asked to explore the underlying reasons.
“Are men seeking treatment promptly for health issues as they arise?
“Are there barriers that are preventing men accessing healthcare when they need it?
“Is enough being done to promote screening services to men and enable the types of behaviours and activities that prevent diseases occurring in the first place?”
Cancers and tumours were found to make up the largest proportion of avoidable deaths, while diseases of the circulatory system came in second.
The above table includes some important messages according to Public Health: “It tells us, for example, that it could have been possible to avoid” -
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.