Health in Sandwell

Public Health England (PHE) produce a health profile which gives a summary of health and inequalities in Sandwell. It includes data on some of the main health issues across the borough and also considers some differences in health within Sandwell. Click here to view the latest profile. You can also view the annual PHE profiles over time.

Key facts on Sandwell's main issues are given below. You can view PHE charts which display the data by clicking on the relevant links.

Birth

  • In 2020, 3.7% of full-term babies have a low birth weight in Sandwell, compared with an England average of 2.9%. This is the 2nd highest in the region.
  • In 2018-20, Infant mortality (deaths aged under 1 year) in Sandwell stands at 6.4 per 1,000 live births, compared with 3.9 per 1,000 in England.

    • Life expectancy

  • For 2018/20, male (76.1 years) and female (80.7 years) life expectancy at birth is significantly lower in Sandwell than England (79.4 and 83.1 respectively).
  • The pattern is the same for healthy life expectancy - male (61.6 years) and female (60.5 years) figures are significantly lower in Sandwell than England (63.1 and 63.9 respectively).

    • Health improvement

  • In terms of child obesity, for 2019/20 Sandwell has the 2nd highest rate in the region and is among the worst in England (ranked 4th worst nationally).
  • In 2020/21, 70.8% of adults in Sandwell are overweight or obese.
  • In 2020/21 9.9% of Sandwell patients aged 17 & over were recorded as having diabetes (according to GP records). This is the highest rate in the region.

    • Mental health

  • Sandwell's mortality rate from suicide and injury of undetermined intent per 100,000 population is 11.8 per 100,000 in 2018/20 compared with 10.4 in England.
  • For adults within Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG area, for 2017 the estimated prevalence of common mental health disorders is 21.9% of people aged 16 & over.
  • In 2020/21, 0.6% of Black Country STP residents (all ages) are recorded on GP registers as suffering from dementia. This is below the average for England.

    • Premature mortality

  • For mortality from all causes considered preventable the Sandwell figure of 224.1 per 100,000 in 2020 compares with a rate of 140.5 per 100,000 for England.
  • The Sandwell rate is also significantly higher than England for other diseases considered "preventable" amongst under 75 year olds, such as cardiovascular,  liver and respiratory diseases, as well as cancer.

    • Link to information about inequalities in Sandwell

    Mortality

  • In 2020, Sandwell has the second highest age standardised rate of mortality from all causes in the West Midlands region, at 1,403 per 100,000 people compared with 1,042 in England.
  • Smoking attributable deaths are also high in Sandwell. The borough rate of 261.1 per 100,000 in 2017/19 compares with the England rate of 202.2
  • Deaths involving COVID in 2020 were at a rate of 245.0 per 100,000, compared with 140.1 in England. This is the highest in the West Midlands region.