NATIONAL experts have challenged health and care leaders in the North-East to close the health and wealth gap with the rest of the country by preventing poor health.

The report, ‘Health and wealth: closing the gap in the North East’, urges North-East local government and NHS services to take a fresh look at how the region’s significant health and wellbeing challenges could be tackled.

It calls for better joint working across North-East authorities and advises that the key way to improve health in the region is to get people back into work.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, said: “Health and wealth are two sides of the same coin and closing the health and wealth gap in the North East compared to the rest of the UK was the Commission’s number one priority.

“Life expectancy in the region has been improving.

“But there is no hiding from the fact that health outcomes are poor and that health inequalities are far too great.

“We are recommending that the entire system needs to shift its priority towards preventing poor health.”

The report which is published today has been presented to leaders of health and care organisations.

In the coming weeks and months, each of the organisations will be considering the detail of the report and agreeing their response to the recommendations.

A copy of the full report is available on the NECA website: northeastca.gov.uk