Health for Wealth 2025 report is launched in parliament

Health inequalities between the North of England and the rest of England have widened dramatically over the last decade, with disability rates now nearly 50% higher and mortality rates 15% higher in the North. 

A report launched in parliament today reveals the economic cost of this divide: an additional £18 billion every year. 

‘Health for Wealth: Building a Healthier North to Boost Productivity’, published by Health Equity North (HEN), shows people in the North are twice as likely to lose their job after ill-health than those in the rest of England, with low skilled workers hit hardest.  

The report highlights deepening economic divisions, with economic inactivity 50% higher in the North; the average northern worker is almost £60 a week worse off; the regional productivity gap, on the other hand, has decreased slightly – primarily due to relatively greater increases in the North West over the past decade. However, a major gap remains with northern regions still having 26% lower productivity on average. 

At a Westminster launch event hosted by Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, MPs and report authors discussed the findings and the urgent need to put health at the heart of any credible plan for long-term economic growth. 

Debbie Abrahams, who is also Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, said: “For too long the North has faced worse health outcomes and fewer economic opportunities than the rest of the country. These findings make clear that this divide is growing, not shrinking. When disability rates are nearly 50% higher and people are twice as likely to lose their jobs after ill-health, the consequences are felt not only by individuals and families but across the whole economy. Today’s event shows that closing the health gap between regions must be a national priority.” 

Authored by HEN academics from Newcastle University, The University of Manchester, Lancaster University and Teesside University, the latest report revisits issues exposed in the landmark 2018 Health for Wealth report and explores how the landscape has changed over time, showing that regional inequalities in health, wages and economic inactivity have deepened. 

The report argues that improving health in the North is not only “the morally right thing to do” but also “the economically astute thing to do”, making a strong case that reducing ill health in the North is essential to tackling economic inactivity and boosting productivity.  

Lead report author Dr Julija Simpson, Research Associate at Newcastle University, said: “This report demonstrates that investing in health is also an investment in economic growth. The North has enormous potential, but persistent health inequalities are holding back workers, businesses and productivity. By improving health outcomes and supporting people to stay in good work, we can help unlock billions in economic value while creating a fairer and more prosperous country.” 

Hannah Davies, Executive Director at Health Equity North, said: “The Parliamentary event is an important opportunity to have key discussions with policymakers about the widening health divide between the North and the rest of England. This is not just a health crisis – it is an economic one. This report shows that poorer health in the North is costing the country £18 billion each year, holding back people, communities and the wider economy. If the government is serious about long-term growth and productivity, tackling regional health inequalities must be part of the solution.” 

Health for Wealth: Building a Healthier North to Boost Productivity’ is available at: https://www.thenhsa.co.uk/app/uploads/2026/03/HEALTH-FOR-WEALTH-REPORT-NEW-1.pdf