Navigating the Long Haul: Understanding Long Covid in Northern England, 2024

By: Steph Scott (Newcastle University), Rachele Salvatelli (Insights North East), Paul Court (Healthworks), Hannah Davies (Northern Health Science Alliance), Scott Lloyd (Middlesbrough Council and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council), Luke Munford (University of Manchester), Liz Shutt (Insights North East) and Clare Bambra (Newcastle University)

Navigating the Long Haul: Understanding Long Covid in Northern England, published by Health Equity North, reveals the striking inequalities in Long Covid rates and a clear North-South divide.

The link between deprivation and higher rates of Long Covid is also explored in the report. Nationally, the prevalence rate in the most deprived areas (6.3%) is almost double that in the least deprived (3.3%). Within region inequalities are also evident in the North East and Yorkshire, where rates in the most deprived areas (8.3%) were 5.2% percentage points higher than in the least deprived areas (3.1%).

The report, a collaboration between Health Equity North, Newcastle University, University of Manchester, Insights North East, Public Health South Tees and Healthworks, explores the impact of Long Covid on the health, wellbeing and employment prospects of adults living in northern England.

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

Read the full report here.