The life expectancy of women in the North of England is two years lower than the national average and they will live in good health for up to six years less than women in the South East, according to a sobering study by the UK public body Health Equity North.
The report published September 2024 points to multiple factors in the last 10 years, including Covid, austerity policies, and the rising cost of living, which have contributed to growing inequality faced by women in the region.
Health Equity North is a ‘virtual institute’ made up of researchers from across the North of England and was set up to address a variety of public health issues working with regional universities and NHS trusts.
Less treatment given for mental illness or physical problems
One finding in the report was that women are less likely to be receiving treatment for mental illness despite the North having higher rates of severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, than the national average.
Through the 2021 census it was found that women in the North are more likely to be living with long term illnesses and debilitating conditions. They are less likely to be prescribed HRT to help with menopause, leading to serious knock-on effects in employment, wellbeing and health.
While the whole country has faced drastic cuts to public health, the Midlands and the North have been disproportionately hit with cuts 15% higher than the national average.
Policymakers need to address regional inequalities to even out life expectancy
Hannah Davies, co-director of Health Equity North, said: “The situation for women’s health in the North can be changed for the better through evidence-based policy interventions.
“We need to see policymakers build on the ambitions outlined in the Women’s Health Strategy for England with focused effort to understand and address the regional inequalities in the many different facets of women’s health.”
At the heart of this health inequality is the fact that women in the North are more likely to be dealing with severe financial hardship. In the North West, nearly one in four people (23%) are living in poverty.
Cost of living crisis and lower wages are factors for women in the North
Evelyn D, a participant in an online study who is based in the North West, said: “[The cost of living crisis] is by far not over. The amount coming in won’t be enough to cover what’s going out. And I’m frightened and I’m really sick of being frightened.”
The report identified a significant wage gap in how women are paid compared with the rest of the country, with women working more hours in the week for less pay.
It found that the lack of women in managerial and director roles which is significantly lower than the national average. It also found that one in five women (20.6%) in the North West have no qualifications, which is significantly higher than the South East (16.3%).
The authors called for calls for Combined Authorities to play a greater role in closing the gap, providing more career services for young women and pushing for a bigger education budget compared to Southern regions to address these inequalities.
Kate Pickett, co-director of Health Equity North, said: “We know that much of the inequality we see affecting women in the North is a direct consequence of poverty, which is completely unacceptable in the 6th largest economy in the world.”
Families in the North are more likely than anywhere else in the country to be on Universal Credit, a basic allowance of a few hundred pounds per month which is not enough to cover fundamental living costs.
Women providing unpaid care to family is common in the North
At the same time researchers found women in the North were providing more unpaid care than anywhere in the country, contributing £10bn via unpaid care to the economy each year, which the report says is £2bn more than it would be if they were at the national average.
One in five women aged 55 to 59 provides unpaid care to a family member who has an illness, disability, or struggles with substance use.
In light of the revealing life expectancy statistics in the report, researchers have raised concerns about the impact of further increases to the pension age in the UK, arguing that women in the North will be disproportionately impacted.
Domestic abuse and substance abuse are high risk factors
Alongside these statistics, the report evidenced that women in the North are at a higher risk of experiencing domestic abuse. The North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber are the three regions with the highest rates of domestic violence, with as many as 19 per 1,000 people experiencing abuse in the home. Domestic violence more commonly occurs in households with one or more children.
The report shows that women abusing substances including alcohol often do so as a result of gender-based trauma and violence, further evidence of the cruel cyclical nature of poverty and health and wellbeing inequality.
In a foreword to the report, Tracy Babin, Metro Mayor of West Yorkshire, and Kim McGuinness, Metro Mayor of the North East, said: “The strength and resilience of women in the region is apparent.
“Their hard work through paid and unpaid labour underpins the economy. Imagine how much more women could achieve without the constraints, so clearly illustrated here.”
