Dr Séamus O’Neill, Chief Executive at the Northern Health Science Alliance, said: “The NHSA welcomes the findings of the Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years On. It is a very clear read but the message is a tough one to take for the citizens of the North of England.

“This action is something the NHSA has been advocating since the publication of our Health for Wealth report. Nearly two years ago we demonstrated not only the scale of North/South health inequalities but also the cost to the economy of £13.2bn each year of this ongoing burden of ill health.

It is indisputable that Government must take action now to tackle health inequalities and to level up the North of England with the rest of the UK.”