Women in Liverpool are developing illness earlier and spending more of their lives in poor health compared with women elsewhere in the country. Health leaders say long-standing inequalities are driving the gap, with concerns raised over access to services, prevention and support across the city.
A recent analysis, conducted by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Engagement, has uncovered concerning health disparities for women in Liverpool. The report indicates that women in the city are developing illnesses approximately 10 years earlier than women nationally.
Furthermore, they are spending nearly 30 percent of their lives in a state of poor health. The study also shows that these women are more likely to die prematurely from preventable causes, with the gap in inequality being notably wider for women than it is for men. These health trends are being driven by deep-rooted, long-standing social and economic inequalities. Key contributing factors include poverty, insecurity or low wages in employment, and the disproportionate burden of unpaid caregiving responsibilities.
According to the report, these cumulative factors are impacting the physical and mental health of women throughout their life cycles. Mental health is also a growing concern in the city. The data suggests that depression is affecting 17 percent of all women in Liverpool, a figure that climbs to nearly 30 percent when focusing on women in middle life. Preventable risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, alcohol, and drug use, continue to contribute significantly to avoidable illnesses. The study highlights that drug-related deaths among women in the city are more than three times the national average.
Through ongoing engagement, a consistent message from women in the city is that they often feel unheard, unsupported, or misunderstood when seeking medical help. Dr. Fiona Lemmens, of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, acknowledged the severity of these findings and stated that health services must respond more effectively to reduce these persistent inequalities.
