Growing social and economic inequalities across north-west England are directly impacting health

The All Together Fairer review states that Merseyside and Cheshire, have areas of both “substantial wealth and substantial deprivation”, which have increased following a decade of austerity policies, the Covid-19 pandemic and the current cost of living crisis.

The report is one in a series of “Marmot Reviews” facilitated by UCL Consultants. The All Together Fairer report was commissioned by the Population Health Board of the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnerships (HCP) to support work to reduce health inequalities through taking action on the social determinants of health and to build back fairer from COVID-19.

Figures estimate that the borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, has the highest levels of poverty in England, with one in four households classed as income-deprived. The review also highlights that “one of the most significant ways that healthy and sustainable places and communities can be forged, is through good quality housing”.

The findings are based on local evidence and will be used to inform local health officials as well as bodies such as NHS England.

Professor Marmot said:

““The case for reducing health inequalities is clear - they are unnecessary and unjust, harm individuals, families, communities and place a huge financial burden on services, including the NHS, the voluntary and community sector and on the economy. “Health inequalities are remediable by reasonable means and, even without national government support, are remediable to some extent.

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