In her second appearance at the Covid inquiry which is looking at the impact on society, Professor Clare Bambra from the Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University will appear alongside Professor Sir Michael Marmot (Expert in the impact of health inequalities) and Professor David Osborn (Expert in the impact on mental health services for people with severe mental illness). The experts will be discussing the unequal effect of the pandemic on people and places, including the north of England.

Professor Bambra, a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and an NIHR Senior Investigator, is a world-leading expert known for her research on understanding and reducing health inequalities.

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry, chaired by Baroness Hallet, has been set up to examine the UK’s response to and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and learn lessons for the future.

Professor Bambra will be presenting the joint report and evidence on Wednesday 18^th February  at 11.30am to the government-commissioned inquiry.

Professor Bambra said: “We found that Covid-19 was an unequal pandemic with mortality rates and other health problems worse in more deprived areas and regions including the north of England.

“We also found that whilst inequalities in Covid-19 mortality decreased during lockdowns, inequalities in obesity and physical activity increased. Loneliness was also a problem. The national vaccination programme decreased but did not eliminate inequalities in Covid-19.”

Covid Inquiry

Professor Bambra previously gave evidence in June 2023 on the deep health inequalities across the country in the lead up to the pandemic and the lack of attention to social inequality in pandemic planning.  

You can follow the presentation of evidence on the Inquiry’s YouTube channel which can be found on the UK Covid 19 Inquiry website.

The report from Professors Clare Bambra and Sir Michael Marmot is available in the Document section of the Inquiry website where you can also find out more about inquiry and the proceedings.

Find out more

The Unequal Pandemic: Covid-19 and health inequalities, book by Clare Bambra and colleagues

Health Equity North Reports co-authored by Professor Clare Bambra on Health Resilience.

How to stop the rising cost of living becoming a health crisis – Prof Bambra’s work at Newcastle University

Health for Wealth: Levelling up the North-South health divide – Prof Bambra’s work at Newcastle University

From Fuse,  COVID-19 related deaths higher in deprived areas globally and academic paper