PEOPLE in Dudley were more likely to die from respiratory illnesses than the rest of the England in 2021, new figures show.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were 106 deaths from respiratory illness for every 100,000 people in Dudley – meaning the area has more than the 94 for England as a whole.

Dudley ranked 55th in England for deaths from lung conditions and 82nd across the UK as a whole.

Across the UK, four of the 10 worst places for respiratory deaths are in the North West of England – with Knowsley in Merseyside topping the list with 178 deaths per 100,000 people.

Asthma + Lung UK said the Government must address the 'stark inequality' in lung health across the UK.

Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the charity, said: “We know that people in more deprived areas are more likely to have worse lung health, often with no choice but to live in poorer quality housing, more polluted areas with higher smoking rates."

Separate figures, from the ONS, show 13.7 per cent of adults in Dudley are smokers – higher than the UK average of 13.3 per cent.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We are working hard to improve lung health across the country – including by investing millions in research and backing the NHS’s targeted lung health checks programme, which aims to detect conditions including lung cancer earlier and faster.

“We’ve set ambitious clean air targets to reduce the health impacts of air pollution – ensuring reductions are made where concentrations are highest – and we’re committed to delivering on our Smokefree ambition by 2030, with smoking rates in England currently at an all-time low.

“Chronic respiratory diseases forms a significant part of our Major Conditions Strategy, which covers the six different conditions that most affect the population in England and aims to alleviate pressure on the health system and support people to live healthier lives for longer, wherever they live."