I have called on the Government to focus on health inequalities as new data revealed there are sharp disparities between St Helens North and the rest of the region, as well as the wider country.

Revealing stark health disparities, the data shows for example that the prevalence of diabetes in St Helens North was estimated to be 8.1% of the population in 2019/20, compared to 7.3% across Merseyside and 7.1% nationally.

For asthma, the figure rose to 8.4% for St Helens North, resting at 7% on Merseyside and just 6.5% in England.

While for coronary heart disease St Helens weighed in at 4.4% to Merseyside’s 3.8% and England’s 3.1%.

I am urging ministers to renew its focus on tackling health inequalities in areas like St Helens Borough as the country eases out of lockdown.

This data again confirms the concerning extent to which St Helens North is hit disproportionately by many grave health conditions, and makes clear the need for action.

Even before the pandemic – which is likely to have only worsened matters – our communities were scarred by higher incidences of diabetes, asthma, cancers, as well as serious heart and respiratory diseases.