Inner-city Bradford has the highest rate of avoidable premature deaths than anywhere else in England, with high levels of deprivation being blamed.

New figures also show the number of people who died before they were 75 from heart disease in 2012, was also higher in that part of Bradford than in elsewhere in the country.

The figures relate to the Bradford City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area whose chairman last night described it as being “the most deprived in the country”. The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), looked at premature deaths which should not occur in the presence of timely and effective healthcare for CCGs across the country.

It looked at the national life expectancy of people and used the difference between that and the actual age people died, to give a measure of premature deaths – potential years of life lost (PYLL) – for 2012.

HSCIC chairman Kingsley Manning said: “This report provides an insight into premature deaths which is essential to those providing and planning health services across the country.

“It is striking that more than one million potential years of life were lost for people registered with GPs last year in England – the equivalent to just over one week for every single registered person in the country.

“This report makes an important contribution to understanding differences in health outcomes across the country alongside other HSCIC data, for instance on public health.”

In Bradford there are three CCGs – Bradford City, Bradford Districts and Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven.

Bradford City had the highest national rate of premature death in 2012 at 3,215 per 100,000 registered patients compared to a national rate of 2,061.

People living in Surrey and Sussex have the lowest rate, with 1,738 years of life lost per 100,000.

The measure of early death was 2,532 per 100,000 registered patients for the Bradford District CCG and 1,996 for Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven.

Dr Akram Khan, clinical chairman of Bradford City CCG, said: “As a CCG we are determined to improve local people’s health and well-being and reduce health inequalities, and to do this we have set out an ambitious programme which focuses on tackling the early number of deaths from heart and lung diseases and stroke.

“Bradford City CCG is the most deprived CCG in the country, and the deep health inequalities that exist have a major impact on the health and needs of local people. But as a CCG, for the first time, we are now in a unique position to truly understand and respond to people’s needs, by focusing budgets and services where they are required most and can have the greatest impact.”

“We have a strong focus on increasing access to health services for disadvantaged groups. Our immediate plans include a major campaign to identify everyone in the City area who is at risk of developing diabetes in the future, and ensure they receive the appropriate advice, care and support to prevent or delay the onset of diabetes, as well as help those who have diabetes to manage their condition and prevent serious complications.”

The HSCIC considered the four main causes of death for people under 75 – cardiovascular, or heart disease; respiratory disease; liver disease and cancer. In Bradford City CCG the number of people dying under 75 from cardiovascular disease was almost double the national average – 122 deaths per 100,000 registered patients, compared to a national rate of 66. For the Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven CCG, the figure was 59, and 84 for the Bradford Districts CCG.

Bradford City CCG’s mortality rates for under 75s from cancer was at 133 per 100,000 registered patients, compared to a national average of 123.

Bradford District and Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven CCGs’ rates were 120 and 112, per 100,000 registered patients respectively.

Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We’ve made great progress in the fight against heart disease, but these figures highlight the unacceptable health inequalities throughout the country.”

Greg Fell, consultant in public health at Bradford Council Greg Fell said: “Bradford faces unique health challenges because of the diverse nature of the population and because parts of the city remain amongst the most deprived areas in England.”

Councillor Mike Gibbons, who is chairman of Bradford Council’s Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said the figures were “greatly concerning” for people across Bradford, but not particularly surprising.

Coun Gibbons (Con) added that the Labour-run council did take its responsibilities seriously.