Research collection: COVID-19 and health inequalities

Research collection: COVID-19 and health inequalities

Between 2020 and 2024, the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) North East and North Cumbria led an ongoing, cross-ARC programme of research around COVID-19 and health inequalities.

We worked particularly closely with colleagues in the Northern ARCs to deliver this; namely the ARC Yorkshire and Humber, ARC North West Coast, and ARC Greater Manchester.

The work was delivered collaboration with the Northern Health Science Alliance and Health Equity North – which is supported by all four Northern ARCs.

Health Equity North led on developing a number of key, high profile reports to highlight this work – which achieved extensive media coverage and led to discussions at parliamentary and national policy-making levels.

The programme of research highlighted the extent and evolution of regional inequalities in COVID-19, their causes, and the health and social impact of interventions to reduce them.

You can find links to the published work, below.

Key findings included demonstrating the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the North of England in terms of both health and productivity. This included impacts on mental health.

The work also identified the pathways that led to pandemic inequalities and explored the effectiveness of the national vaccine roll out in reducing inequalities in COVID-19.

ARC NENC health inequalities and marginalised communities theme lead Professor Clare Bambra was appointed as an expert independent witness on health inequalities to the UK’s Public Inquiry into COVID-19. She was commissioned to co-lead and present an evidence report on health inequalities, resilience and preparedness.

This resulted in a House of Commons debate on inequalities in COVID-19 in July 2023.

The work also directly influenced the Inquiry’s first official report to government in July 2024, the recommendations of which are now being considered by the UK government and UK Health Security Agency as they update their policies.

We also led work to examine regional differences in rates of Long Covid, the relationship between Long Covid and socioeconomic deprivation, the impact on sufferers’ lives.

The findings prompted calls for more research into Long Covid and for Government to undertake a consultation with patients to better understand the condition and to implement care plans to support rehabilitation and management.