Today (Tuesday, July 8 2025), The Health Foundation has released a report on how regional inequalities are impacting the rates of premature deaths in England and Wales.

Our Executive Director Hannah Davies has released a statement following the publication of the report:

Hannah Davies, Chief Executive of the Northern Health Science Alliance and Executive Director of Health Equity North, said: “The Health Foundation’s latest analysis lays bare the stark and deeply rooted inequalities in premature death rates across England and Wales – inequalities that are felt acutely here in the North. It confirms what Health Equity North has consistently evidenced: that the structural determinants of health, such as poverty, poor education, insecure work, and long-term regional underinvestment, are driving a public health crisis that shortens lives and widens disparities.

“This new data reinforces our own findings from various Health Equity North and NHSA reports, which highlight how the North experiences some of the worst health outcomes in England – including lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, and greater rates of preventable illnesses. The fact that socioeconomic factors account for over 60% of the variation in premature deaths should trigger urgent national action. Regional inequalities in premature deaths, particularly those seen in the North, are not inevitable. They are the result of political and economic choices. We need a coherent, cross-government prevention strategy to both improve the social conditions that shape our health, and reverse the alarming decline that persists within our regions.

“Halving the gap in healthy life expectancy between the richest and poorest regions, as outlined in the government’s 10-Year Health Plan, will remain an empty ambition unless backed by a long-term commitment to sustained investment and policy. The North has been left behind for too long and now is the time for targeted national action that matches the scale of the challenge.”