DEATHS from coronavirus are highest in the north-east of England due to poverty, unemployment, poor housing and health and “other social factors,” a damning report by the doctors’ union reveals today.

The British Medical Association (BMA) pressed for government action to end regional inequalities, adding that the death rate in the north-east had caused a crisis in the healthcare system.

It demanded that the government tackle the inequalities “as a priority.”

The association has written to 29 MPs in the region saying that the north-south health gap widened before the pandemic and that people living in the poorest areas of the country are twice as likely to die from Covid-19 than those in the richest areas.

BMA north-east regional council chairman Dr George Rae stressed that not enough had been done to resolve “this unfair situation,” which must “now be tackled head on.”

“We are asking for a health-in-all-policies approach to understand the impact of government policy on tackling inequalities,” he said.

“As part of this, action must be taken to address social determinants of health, including ensuring a high standard of education for all, providing high-quality housing and delivering good employment opportunities.”

Labour MP Ian Lavery, who represents Wansbeck in Northumberland, said: “The north-east region has yet again been left behind by this rotten government.

“The BMA report highlights something that we all know — that this dreadful pandemic has had a major impact on the regions where there are higher levels of poverty, low pay, unemployment, poor housing and poor health.

“The people of this great region have suffered again as a direct consequence of Tory government policy.”

Unison northern regional secretary Clare Williams said that the public service union has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to “close the gaps.”

Keep Our NHS Public co-chairman Dr John Puntis said that the last decade has been marked by deteriorating health and widening health inequalities, “largely due to” social and economic conditions. 

“The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted these facts even more starkly, with the poor and those from BAME communities being most affected,” he added.

“The BMA is right to call on the government to urgently address social determinants of ill health, which means a concerted effort to tackle poverty, unemployment and poor housing. 

“Warm words and talk of levelling up will achieve nothing without major investment and a commitment to a long-term strategy where the health of the nation really does become the government’s main priority.”