We serve a population of over 7.5 million people across 5,400 square miles in the communities of Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Glossop (Derbyshire). We cover a mix of major cities, towns, coastal and rural communities.

The factors that might affect health and social care needs vary across the areas we cover. 

Cumbria and Lancashire

North Cumbria

• 510,680 population
• 2 place-based partnerships
• 1 trust
• 9 primary care networks

Lancashire and South Cumbria 

• 1,443,153 population
• 4 place-based partnerships 
• 5 trusts
• 42 primary care networks

Cheshire and Merseyside

• 2,615,425 population
• 9 place-based partnerships
• 17 trusts
• 50 primary care networks

Greater Manchester

• 3,082,709 population
• 10 place-based partnerships
• 9 trusts 
• 65 primary care networks

Health inequalities in the North West*

The diversity in our region makes the North West a unique place to live but also presents some challenges. We know from our data that the overall health of our region’s population has a huge effect on demand for our services.

• In the North West, 32% of people live in the most deprived communities in England, which impacts health outcomes, healthcare experiences and life expectancy more than the general population. 

• Life expectancy is significantly lower than the national average in areas such as Blackpool and Knowsley. People in these communities are more likely to suffer from long-term illnesses or have a higher need for emergency care services.

• The North West has a higher prevalence of chronic conditions and a larger percentage of its population with long-term conditions (30%) compared to all other regions.

• 19% of the North West population are aged 65+ (nearly 1.4m people).

• By 2040, the 65+ population in the North West is likely to increase by 36% to 1.8m people. 

• People aged 90+ will have increased by 93%

What this means

These inequalities and demographic changes put extra pressure on health services, including ambulance services, as demand is often greater in deprived areas. 

We are seeing:

• Rising urgent care demand
• Increasing clinical complexity
• Greater variation across communities

By actively addressing health inequalities, we can help improve patient outcomes, reduce pressure on emergency services, and support a more sustainable healthcare system.