DOCTORS in deprived communities need more help to combat illnesses that lead to people dying younger, according to a Glasgow MSP.

The latest government report shows life expectancy in Glasgow is 72 years for men, and in poorer areas of the city it is even lower.

Patricia Ferguson, MSP for Maryhill and Springburn, which has lower than average life expectancy, said the key was preventative measures looking at poverty and health in deprived communities

She asked the Public Health Minister Michael Matheson how the government was responding to the consistently lower figures for Glasgow.

She asked: "What additional help is being given to GPs in the 'deep end' areas to tackle elements of inequality and low life expectancy?"

The Deep End GP group works in the most deprived areas of Scotland and has many in Glasgow who campaign on securing investment to tackle health inequalities and poverty in those areas.

Mr Matheson said he was aware of the Deep End GP group and he had met with some who he said were committed to tackling inequality.

He said the Scottish government was looking at how it would help augment staffing levels in these areas.

He said he was looking at measures "beyond health " to tackle the social problems that lead to poor health

He said: "I think that can help undo what are intergenerational problems. It is unacceptable that we should tolerate that and we should use every lever we have to break that link."

The latest Office of National Statistics report into life expectancy across the UK showed Glasgow had the lowest with men at 72.6 years and women at 78.5.

For men it was 10 years less than the highest expectancy which was in Dorset at 82.9 years and for women eight years younger compared to Purbeck in the South West of England.

Six of the 10 lowest areas were in Scotland while there was no Scottish area in the top 10 which had six from the south of England and another two from inside London.

While there have been improvements the increase in has been slower in Glasgow than in the highest area.

Expectancy increased since 2000 for 68.9 years in the city to 72.6 years a rise of 2.7 years, while in East Dorset it went from 79.5 to 82.9, a rise of 3.4.