Report shows Galway has lowest lung cancer mortality rate

Galway Bay fm newsroom – A new study has revealed that Galway has the lowest lung cancer death rate in the country. The figures compiled in today's Irish Examiner examine the nation's health in a range of areas. The data shows that Galway has the lowest mortality rate for lung cancer nationwide, with 27 deaths per 100,000. That's less than half the figure of the highest mortality rate, Co. Carlow with 55 deaths per 100,000. In Galway city, the number of deaths per 1,000 live births is the second lowest in the country at 1.8, while the figure for the county is 5.6. The county figure is significantly higher than the national average of 3.5 deaths per 100,000 live births. There's also a disparity in the suicide rate, with 9.3 deaths per 100,000 in Galway City and 12.1 in the county, compared to the national average of 11.5. Up to 50 percent of the county's population of over 250 thousand people hold medical cards, while up to 15 percent are obese. The county also has one of the highest number of GPs per capita in the country, with 70-75 GP's per 100,000.