Borough chiefs have been putting their heads together in an attempt to tackle Sutton’s public health problems.
Representatives from over 75 organisations including GPs, pharmacies, police and the NHS met at Scola, in Sutton town centre, on Tuesday, July 23.
Speeches were given by a variety of agencies as well as Sutton Council leader, Ruth Dombey, and the director of public health Dr Ellis Friedman.
A recent report by Dr Friedman revealed an "unacceptable gap" in life expectancy between Sutton’s rich and poor as well as fitness levels lower than the rest of the country.
Coun Dombey said: "Public health is the responsibility of each and every one of us. By bringing people from such a diverse range of backgrounds we were able to talk about what we can do in Sutton to reduce the health inequalities and ensure that everyone can lead an active and fulfilling life.
"It is unacceptable in this day and age that in some parts of the borough the life expectancy of residents is almost nine years shorter than for others."
Local authorities have responsibility for stemming obesity, binge drinking and smoking after they took over public health in April this year.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here