September 3rd 2024.
A new study has revealed some concerning statistics about the lives of women in the North of England. It turns out that they have shorter life expectancies, work longer hours for less pay, and are more likely to be unpaid carers and live in poverty compared to women in other areas of England. This report, titled "Women of the North: Inequality, Health and Work", is backed by two female northern elected mayors, Tracy Brabin and Kim McGuinness, who are calling on the central government to take action to address regional inequality.
According to the study conducted by Health Equity North, women in the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the North East have lower healthy life expectancies, fewer qualifications, worse mental health, and are more likely to experience domestic violence or end up in the criminal justice system compared to their counterparts in the rest of England. The research also found higher rates of infant mortality and abortion in these regions.
In fact, the study revealed that girls born in the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber between 2018 and 2020 can only expect to live in good health until the ages of 59.7, 62.4, and 62, respectively. This is significantly lower than the national average and up to six years less than girls born in the South East.
The report highlights the fact that women in the North contribute £10 billion of unpaid care to the UK economy each year, with one in five women aged 55-59 in the North providing care to a family member due to sickness, disability, mental illness, or substance use. More than 70 experts, including academics, health and social care professionals, contributed to this report.
Hannah Davies, the executive director at Health Equity North, expressed her concern over the findings, stating that they provide "damning evidence" of how women in the North are being failed in every aspect of their lives. She also emphasized the need for evidence-based policy interventions to address these issues.
Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, urged those in positions of power to take action after reading the report, stating that its findings will resonate with every woman and girl in the region. Similarly, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness called out the lack of equality and opportunity for women and girls, stating that it is unacceptable.
The report suggests various measures that could help improve the situation, including helping women claim their rightful benefits, providing better childcare options, and ending the two-child benefit cap. For the latest updates on this issue, you can follow The Agency on Twitter and Facebook or sign up for daily push alerts. It is clear that there is a lot of work to be done to address the years of damage highlighted in this report, but with the right interventions, the situation for women's health in the North can be improved.
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