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A charity is calling on the prime minister to prioritise action to reduce health inequalities, after a major study found people living in the most deprived parts of England are diagnosed with serious illness earlier and die sooner than their peers in more affluent areas.
The study, conducted by the Health Foundation, found that 60-year-old women in the poorest areas of England have a level of ‘diagnosed illness’ equivalent to that of 76-year-old women in the wealthiest areas.
While women spend a greater amount of time spent with diagnosed illness, there is still a 10-year disparity between men’s health in the poorest areas of England compared to the most affluent.
Both men and women in the most deprived areas live shorter lives (by an average of five and nine years respectively) and spend a greater proportion of their lives in poor health compared to those in the least deprived areas.
People living in the North of England more likely to have multiple healthcare needs
The analysis also looks in detail at age, ethnicity and region, and how each of these factors affects health inequalities.
Children and young people in poorer areas (the under 20s) are much more likely to be living with conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, and to experience alcohol problems, while people in old age are more likely to experience chronic pain, COPD, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and dementia.
It also revealed significant ethnic disparities. While White people are more likely to live with diagnosed anxiety and depression, alcohol problems and cancer, people from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds have the highest age-standardised rates of diagnosed chronic pain, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
People living in the North of England were also more likely to have more healthcare needs. In the North East particularly, there are high levels of diagnosed chronic pain and alcohol problems.
Health inequalities have a significant economic impact
Jo Bibby, Director of Healthy Lives at the Health Foundation is now calling on the next prime minister to publish the delayed Health Disparities White Paper and outline how the government plans to tackle health inequalities across England.
She said: “The NHS wasn’t set up to carry the burden of policy failings in other parts of society. A healthy, thriving society must have all the right building blocks in place, including good quality jobs, housing and education. Without these, people face shorter lives, in poorer health. This has a big economic impact, with many older workers now leaving the labour market due to ill-health.
“Both leadership candidates have committed to taking forward the levelling-up agenda, including the commitment to improve life expectancy in the most deprived areas – but this can only be achieved via concerted action across practically every government department.”
“The delayed Health Disparities White Paper provides an opportunity to outline such a plan. Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss should both commit to addressing health inequalities if they become Prime Minister – and delivering for red wall areas and disadvantaged communities across the country.”