A new report highlights alarming health disparities faced by women in the North of England, revealing shorter lifespans, lower healthy life expectancies, and poorer mental health compared to their counterparts in other regions of the country. The report, titled ‘Women of the North: Inequality, Health, and Work,’ was produced by Health Equity North and involved over 70 professionals from academia, health, social care, and policy sectors.
The study shows that girls born between 2018 and 2020 in the North East can expect to live in good health until the age of 59, which is up to six years less than their peers in the South East. The North West and Yorkshire and the Humber regions report similar figures, with healthy life expectancy averaging until age 62. Additionally, severe mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, are more prevalent in the North West and North East.
The report also indicates higher rates of infant mortality and abortion in the North, as well as elevated alcohol-related deaths—13.9 per 100,000 in the North East, 13.8 in the North West, and 11.7 in Yorkshire and the Humber. Treatment rates for diagnosed mental health conditions are notably lower in these northern areas compared to the South and Yorkshire and the Humber, pointing to significant treatment gaps.
Hannah Davies, Executive Director at Health Equity North, emphasized the report’s findings as evidence of systemic failures impacting women throughout their lives in the North. She stressed the need for evidence-based policy interventions to address these long-standing issues.
The report, set to be presented in Parliament this month, calls for policymakers to prioritize health in all policy areas. Recommendations include establishing Women’s Health Hubs across the North and improving demographic data collection to better address diverse health needs.
Professor Kate Pickett from the University of York underscored that the disparities largely stem from poverty, which is unacceptable given the UK’s economic status. She hopes the report will prompt the government to prioritize health equity in future policies.
