A GOVERNMENT profile shows there are serious health implications when it comes to where you live.

The Department of Health's profile gives a snapshot of the health of people in Lewisham and Greenwich compared with other similar populations and the national average.

It shows stark health inequalities across Lewisham and Greenwich compared with national averages and reveals most deaths are caused by smoking-related illnesses.

In Greenwich 11 of 17 wards are among the most deprived in England, including Glyndon and Charlton.

Eltham North is the best place to live if you want a long life in Greenwich.

Its inhabitants live to an average of 79.6 years, almost five years longer than wards including Abbey Wood or Woolwich Riverside.

Teen pregnancies are above the national average and totalled 800 between 2001 and 2003.

It was good news for children whose teeth are in great shape, as the borough had lower than average levels of tooth decay.

And the borough also has fewer cases of diabetes than the national average.

But more than 1,500 people died directly as a result of smoking between 2002 and 2004.

Greenwich Primary Care Trust says it is already aware of the problems which affect the borough and is working to make life.

A spokesman said: "The data highlighted a number of health challenges.

"While the profile provides a helpful summary of some of those continuing causes for concern for the health of the local population, these factors are already well understood by the PCT, the local authority and other partners."

Meanwhile in Lewisham the statistics were also behind the national average.

Seven of the borough's 18 wards, including Brockley and Evelyn, are considered to be among the most deprived in the country.

But unlike Greenwich not one of Lewisham's wards had a life expectancy significantly higher than the national average of 78.5 years.

In fact in eight wards, including Rushey Green, life expectancy is only 74.8 years.

According to the profile there were 134 more teen pregnancies in Lewisham than in Greenwich between 2001 and 2003 and more than 1,115 deaths were caused by smoking.

Last year 2,188 residents sought treatment for mental health issues.

Director of public health for Lewisham Dr Chris Watts said: "There's a lot we can take as positive from the profile and as a borough we are in a lot better position than we were 10 years ago, when we were the 14th most deprived borough in the country. Now we are the 52nd.

"We've made good developments in child mortality and teenage pregnancy is falling.

"From the profile I have identified seven key areas we need to look at including depravation and stroke rates and we will keep on working to improve the situation."