It has lengthy been recognised that there's a north and south divide within the UK.

While the eye across the disparities is often targeted on the financial angle, health high quality appears to endure as nicely.

Located within the North West of England, Blackburn is a city the place many wrestle with poor well being.

Data from the Office for National Statistics means that 7.8 p.c of Blackburn with Darwen residents stated they have been in "bad or very bad" basic well being when requested within the 2021 census.

Nationally, the census revealed that 5.4 p.c of individuals have been in unhealthy or very unhealthy well being.

However, the statistic rose to six.4 p.c when reaching the North West.

Abdul Razaq, Blackburn with Darwen’s Director of Public Health, stated: “Work is ongoing to understand the 2021 Census data as it is released, to ensure that we are responding to the current health challenges.

“The Census 2021 data highlights some significant and ongoing health and care challenges of our residents.

“However, the Census 2021 data also suggests that since the 2011 Census our rates of residents reported that they are in ‘good’ or ‘very good’ health are increasing, whilst our rates of disability and numbers of unpaid carers working 50+ hours a week are decreasing.”

Since the earlier census recorded in 2011, the group of residents who have been in poor health has decreased from 8.9 p.c to 7.8 p.c of the inhabitants.

During this time, the variety of residents reporting their well being as “good” or “very good” additionally elevated from 74.1 p.c to 77.1 p.c.

Interestingly, that is larger than the speed of improve seen nationally.

Cllr Damian Talbot, Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Wellbeing stated: “We are committed to supporting all Blackburn with Darwen residents, no matter who they are, to live a full life with opportunities to make the most of what the borough has to offer.

"This is a key focus of our new corporate plan, which sets out how we will tackle addressing health inequalities that were highlighted starkly during the COVID pandemic.  

“We are continuing to build on our strong partnership links, as working together with others is also vital to addressing health inequalities. 

“Working with partners such as the NHS, we will ensure a joined-up approach to tackling the causes of ill-health and supporting people to live as independently as possible. 

“We are also working within the new health and care structures to fight for the resources we need in our borough.

“We can also address some of the borough’s health challenges through our growth programme by making the borough more prosperous and introducing more better-quality housing.”

The Department of Health and Social Care can also be working in the direction of higher future and well being outcomes.

Their spokesperson stated: “We recently announced a major conditions strategy to address regional disparities in health outcomes, supporting the levelling up mission to narrow the gap in healthy life expectancy by 2030.

“There is already work ongoing across the North East, with the local Integrated Care Board investing £39 million over the next three years to prevent ill health and address health disparities.”