More than one in 20 Bolton residents said they were in poor health when asked in the 2021 census, new figures show.

Office for National Statistics figures show 6.7 per cent of residents in Bolton said they were in "bad or very bad" general health in the 2021 census.

Nationally, 5.4 per cent of people responded to the census saying they were in bad or very bad health.

This rose to 6.4 per cent in the North West.

There were also regional disparities in the number of unpaid carers across the country, the figures show.

In Bolton, 5.5 per cent of the population said they provided high levels of unpaid care and 9.3 per cent of Bolton residents were classed as disabled in 2021.

Cllr Susan Baines, executive Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Bolton Council, said: “The recent rich data from the 2021 census regarding the health and Wellbeing of Bolton residents is extremely welcome and will be used to help address health inequality across the Borough by the newly formed neighbourhood model.

“The definition of good or poor health can however be subjective and can be influenced by many factors such as one's feelings, and opinions and can refer to both physical and mental health. 

“The data will therefore need to be scrutinised carefully.

“Nationally, Bolton, like some other towns in the North West has higher than average rates of poor health and again, demographics, socio economic, education and employment are important factors to be considered.

“Our Public health team along with our GP's, the hospital, the council, and the voluntary sector are working hard to address deprivation, and health inequality as are across GM.

“There is help out there and I would advise anyone in need of support to engage with the various services offered across the borough.

“This is particularly important for carers, who often go unnoticed and who themselves need support to remain healthy.

“Information can be obtained from the council website and from our libraries and surgeries etc.

“Self-help is also important, keeping active, keeping socially connected and claiming any relevant benefits you are entitled to.

“Also, ensuring health checks are undertaken when contacted by your GP surgery."

The Nuffield Trust said people living in certain areas fair much worse than others, and that the improvement in health across the country has not been enjoyed uniformly.

Sally Gainsbury, senior fellow at the think tank, highlighted the impact socio-economic factors had on people's health.

She said: "The role of socio-economic inequalities was often overlooked in health inequalities policy in the decade up until the pandemic. NHS England needs to follow through with their new focus on economic deprivation, as well as other, often related, drivers of health inequalities such as racial discrimination and social exclusion.

"We look forward to the Government giving these issues the attention they deserve in the long-delayed white paper on health inequalities."

By the ONS ranking of health levels – which takes into account poor health, disability, and unpaid care – Bolton ranks 274th of England and Wales's 331 local authority areas.

The Department for Health and Social Care said the gap in the number of years people live in good health is "stark and unacceptable".

A spokesperson added: "We recently announced a major conditions strategy to address regional disparities in health outcomes, supporting the levelling up mission to narrow the gap in healthy life expectancy by 2030.

"There is already work ongoing across the North East, with the local Integrated Care Board investing £39 million over the next three years to prevent ill health and address health disparities."