New Office for National Statistics data reveals avoidable mortality rates have plateaued at pre-COVID levels, with stark inequalities between regions and deprivation levels.
Fresh data from the Office for National Statistics confirms that approximately one in five deaths in England and Wales could have been prevented or treated with timely and effective healthcare or public health interventions in 2024. The figures—21.3% in England and 22.8% in Wales—represent a levelling-off after the pandemic spike, returning to rates seen before COVID-19 disrupted health services across the country.
The term “avoidable mortality” encompasses deaths from causes that are either treatable through healthcare provision or preventable through public health measures. This includes cancers caught at advanced stages due to delayed diagnoses, conditions like stroke and heart disease managed inadequately, and preventable infections. Understanding these figures matters considerably because they serve as a barometer for how effectively the NHS and wider health system are functioning across different parts of the UK.
The ONS data breaks down avoidable deaths into two categories: approximately 64% are preventable deaths—conditions such as smoking-related diseases or alcohol and drug-related harm that could be avoided altogether through public health interventions—whilst around 35% are treatable deaths from conditions that should be managed successfully with appropriate healthcare access and quality.
Whilst the 2024 figures represent a stabilisation of avoidable mortality rates compared with the chaos of pandemic years, they mask concerning underlying patterns. Regional inequalities remain pronounced. The North East and North West of England continue to experience the highest rates of avoidable mortality, with stark contrasts to southern regions. This geographical variation reflects underlying differences in healthcare capacity, health behaviours, socioeconomic conditions, and deprivation levels across different parts of the country.
More troubling still is the persistent correlation between deprivation and avoidable mortality. Analysis of the 2023 data reveals that men living in England’s most deprived areas face avoidable mortality rates 3.9 times higher than those in the least deprived areas. For women, the gap is 3.5 times higher. In Wales, the most deprived quintile experiences avoidable mortality rates 2.7 times higher than the least deprived. These figures underscore how socioeconomic inequality translates directly into differential health outcomes and premature death.
Neoplasms—principally various forms of cancer—remain the leading cause of avoidable mortality in both England and Wales, though the ONS notes that rates for cancer-related avoidable deaths have continued to decline. This positive trend reflects improvements in cancer screening and treatment programmes, yet the persistence of cancer as the primary avoidable cause highlights the ongoing challenge of early detection and access to effective therapy.
Particular concern surrounds children and young people, where avoidable mortality rates have begun climbing since 2020. Injuries represent the leading cause of avoidable death in those aged under 20, alongside concerning increases in deaths from alcohol and drug use, and respiratory and infectious diseases. The Royal Society for Public Health has called for urgent intervention to reverse these trends, warning of widening regional inequalities and a crisis of ill health affecting the working-age population.
These figures arrive amid ongoing pressures on the NHS and social care systems. With waiting lists lengthening and frontline services under strain, the stabilisation—rather than reduction—of avoidable mortality rates suggests that recent improvements to healthcare capacity and public health messaging have simply arrested further deterioration rather than delivering the improvements needed to pre-empt preventable deaths.
Source: @ONS
Key Takeaways
- Around one in five deaths (21.3% in England and 22.8% in Wales) were considered avoidable in 2024, returning to pre-pandemic levels
- Approximately 64% of avoidable deaths are preventable through public health action, whilst 35% are treatable deaths where healthcare access failed
- Stark regional inequalities persist, with northern regions experiencing significantly higher avoidable mortality rates than the south
- Deprivation remains the strongest predictor of avoidable mortality risk, with the most deprived populations experiencing rates up to 3.9 times higher than the least deprived
- Avoidable mortality among children and young people has begun rising since 2020, particularly from injuries, infections, and substance-related causes
What This Means for Kent Residents
For Kent residents, these national statistics carry direct relevance to local healthcare planning and funding priorities. Kent, with its mix of prosperous commuter towns and more deprived coastal areas, reflects the broader inequality patterns evident nationally. The Office for National Statistics data emphasises that preventable and treatable deaths remain concentrated in areas of deprivation, suggesting that Kent’s more disadvantaged communities—particularly in coastal towns—may face higher relative risks. Residents should be aware that these figures underline the importance of early health screening, take-up of public health programmes, and timely engagement with NHS services. For healthcare planners and commissioners across Kent’s Integrated Care Boards, the stabilisation of avoidable mortality rates at high levels indicates that further investment in prevention programmes, cancer screening capacity, and management of chronic diseases remains essential to reducing premature deaths. The rising rates among young people also warrant particular attention to youth mental health services and support for substance misuse across the county.
