Framework to reduce inequities for future generations launched by Professor Sir Michael Marmot

The new report, published this week (30 June), was commissioned by the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership. Providing evidence of the health inequality challenges the City Region will face post-pandemic and recommendations to monitor and reduce them. The City Region had a 25% higher COVID-19 death rate than England as a whole in the 13 months to March 2021. This high death rate contributed to a decline in life expectancy in the North West region, which was larger than the average in England. Life expectancy fell in 2020 by 1.6 years for men and 1.2 years for women in the North West compared 1.3 years and 0.9 years, respectively, across England.

Professor Marmot (UCL Institute of Health Equity), said if the government is serious about levelling up health inequities, equity of health and wellbeing must be at the heart of government and business strategy rather narrow economic goals: “Greater Manchester has high levels of avoidable health inequalities as a result of longstanding economic and social inequities, and as across the country, ethnic disadvantage.”

The City Region has also experienced high rates of mortality from COVID-19 and particularly damaging long-term economic and social effects during the pandemic as a result of prolonged lockdowns.  These multiple negative impacts will damage health and widen health inequalities unless action to build back fairer is introduced across the City Region. 

Supported by UCL Consultants, a part of UCL Innovation & Enterprise.

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