An MP has called on the Government to focus on health inequalities as new data revealed there are sharp disparities between a town in Merseyside and the rest of the region, as well as the wider country.
Conor McGinn, MP for St Helens North, highlighted his concerns after analysis of new House of Commons data revealed his constituency underperformed both Merseyside and in England overall on as many as 16 out of 20 key health conditions - including diabetes, asthma, obesity, depression and high blood pressure.
Revealing stark health disparities, the data shows for example that the prevalence of diabetes in St Helens North was estimated to be 8.1% of the population in 2019/20, compared to 7.3% across Merseyside and 7.1% nationally.
For asthma, the figure rose to 8.4% for St Helens North, resting at 7% on Merseyside and just 6.5% in England.
While for coronary heart disease St Helens weighed in at 4.4% to Merseyside’s 3.8% and England’s 3.1%.
Mr McGinn urged ministers to renew its focus on tackling health inequalities in areas like St Helens Borough as the country eases out of lockdown.
Mr McGinn said: "This data again confirms the concerning extent to which St Helens North is hit disproportionately by many grave health conditions, and makes clear the need for action.
“Even before the pandemic – which is likely to have only worsened matters – our communities were scarred by higher incidences of diabetes, asthma, cancers, as well as serious heart and respiratory diseases.
“The Government must renew its efforts to tackle these disgraceful health inequalities, and give our NHS the tools required to meet the challenge.”
Earlier in the year, St Helens residents were encouraged to actively seek medical help if they experience problems, amid fears that lockdown could have stored up or exacerbated existing conditions.
Data obtained from St Helens CCG back in March showed that GP referrals for first Out-Patient attendances fell sharply during the first lockdown, with figures for April to September 2020 down 39% on the same period the year previously.
This included a 25% fall in cardiology referrals and 23% drop for diabetes referrals – conditions which, as confirmed by the new data, disproportionately affect St Helens.
