What were we trying to do?
We wanted to examine how COVID-19 affected the health, productivity and wellbeing of people in the North compared to other parts of England. 

 

 

Why was this important?
Before the pandemic, regional inequalities already caused people in the North to have worse health outcomes than in other parts of England. 

 

We needed to find out whether these inequalities had worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. If they had, it would help to make a case for changes to policy and funding decisions that could address – and hopefully reduce – regional inequalities. 

 

How did we do it?
We used data collected before, during and after the pandemic to look in detail at 4 specific areas where COVID-19 had affected people living in the Northern Powerhouse: 

 

1. Effects of COVID-19 on health and productivity 
2. Effects of COVID-19 on mental and financial wellbeing 
3. The COVID-19 economic crisis and health 
4. COVID-Generation: Children and the future of the Northern Powerhouse

 

 

Findings

Key findings included:

 

• Rates of death due to COVID-19 were higher in the North than in other parts of England (an extra 12.4 deaths per 100,000). An extra 57.7 people per 100,000 died in the Northern Powerhouse due to all causes.
• Economic outcomes, especially unemployment rates, were worse in the North.
• Financial and mental wellbeing were hardest hit in the North of England, with the North’s reduction in mental wellbeing potentially costing the economy £5bn due to reduced productivity. 
• Austerity measures affected people in the Northern Powerhouse more than elsewhere in England, especially in areas already experiencing high levels of deprivation. 
• Since the pandemic, children and young people have been experiencing worsening poverty, education, employment and mental health. This is worrying, as child health is a key predictor of life-long health and economic productivity.

 

See the report COVID-19 in the Northern Powerhouse: Tackling inequalities for UK health and productivity for full findings and short- and medium-term recommendations that were made to the government. 

 

Who did we work with?

• Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA)
• NIHR ARC North East and North Cumbria
• NIHR ARC North West Coast
• NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber
• NIHR School for Public Health Research

 

 

Funding information
This work was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Northern Health Science Alliance. 

 

 

More information

 

 

Mike Spence
Senior Programme Lead 
mike.spence@healthinnovationmanchester.com