North 'hit hardest' during the pandemic

People in the North East were more likely to die from Covid-19, spent almost six weeks longer in lockdown and also became poorer during the first year of the pandemic, figures reveal.

Academicswhohaveanalysed Government statistics say much of the blame for the increased mortality could be explained by the higher deprivation levels and worse pre-pandemic health in the North.

The report, commissioned by the Northern Health Science Alliance, found:

Peoplelivingintheregion had a 17% higher mortality rate due to Covid-19 than in the rest of England.

Care home Covid-19 mortality was 26% higher than the rest of England.

On average people had 41 more days of the harshest lockdown restrictions than in the rest of the country.

People experienced a larger drop in mental wellbeing.

Wages, which were lower than the rest of England before the pandemic, fell further.

Clare Bambra, professor of public health at Newcastle University, said: "Our report shows how regional health inequalities before Covid have resulted in an unequal pandemic, with higher rates of ill health, death and despair in the region.

"The economic impact of the lockdown is also looking likely to exacerbate the regional economic divide.

"The Government's levelling up agenda needs to seriously address health inequalitiesintheNorth,forall generations."

The report authors called for the Government to boost funding to Northern hospitals.