but the rate of people aged over 65 in poor health, and the percentage of adults who are obese, are better than the England average. There are health inequalities within Croydon by location, gender, and ethnicity. For males living in the most deprived areas of Croydon, life expectancy is almost nine years less than for those living in the least deprived areas. For females the difference is just over five years. Over the last ten years, the death rate from all causes combined has fallen for males and remained lower than the England average. While rates for females have also improved they remain similar to the England average. Early death rates from heart disease and stroke, and cancer, have also fallen during this period. Rates of children in poverty, infant mortality, teenage pregnancy, and the level of childhood obesity, are significantly worse than the England average. Levels of breastfeeding initiation and smoking during pregnancy are, however, better.” Financial mismanagement The chief executive and finance director of NHS SW London posted a surplus of £5 million, which was later reported as a medium likelihood of a £22 million additional financial exposure by Ernst and Young who were called in by NHS London. Director of Public Health Dr Peter Brambleby had announced his retirement prior to their arrival. Managers from surrounding PCTs, raised concerns. Brambleby asserted that patient services were affected and blew the whistle to then Secretary of State, Andrew Lansley however the Ernst and Young review found that Dr Brambleby's assertions were without foundation, as reported by the NHS London chair. This is further evidenced in the Croydon PCT Annual Report 2011/12, which demonstrates that the number of invitations for Health Checks had exceeded their target during the period in question. Peter Brambleby observed a systematic culture of dishonesty and bullying in the NHS, and cited personal experience from other posts, but was not able to provide any verifiable proof that this occurred in Croydon. He also retracted the relevant chapters of his last two annual reports on the grounds that he could no longer trust the finance data on which they depended, he did however issue the second of these reports after the first draft of the Ernst and Young Report and did state within these reports that the finance department showed a greater degree of accuracy and competency than other NHS Finance Departments. His acting successor amended the