Covid inquiry hears evidence from public health expert Published on: 18 February 2026 A world-leading expert on health inequalities at Â鶹´«Ã½ will be presenting further evidence to the independent public inquiry into the Covid pandemic today. In her second appearance at the Covid inquiry which is looking at the impact on society, Professor Clare Bambra from the Population Health Sciences Institute, Â鶹´«Ã½ will appear alongside Professor Sir Michael Marmot (Expert in the impact of health inequalities) and Professor David Osborn (Expert in the impact on mental health services for people with severe mental illness). The experts will be discussing the unequal effect of the pandemic on people and places, including the north of England. Professor Bambra, a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and an NIHR Senior Investigator, is a world-leading expert known for her research on understanding and reducing health inequalities. The UK Covid-19 Inquiry, chaired by Baroness Hallet, has been set up to examine the UK’s response to and impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and learn lessons for the future. Professor Bambra will be presenting the joint report and evidence on Wednesday 18th February at 11.30am to the government-commissioned inquiry. Professor Bambra said: “We found that Covid-19 was an unequal pandemic with mortality rates and other health problems worse in more deprived areas and regions including the north of England. “We also found that whilst inequalities in Covid-19 mortality decreased during lockdowns, inequalities in obesity and physical activity increased. Loneliness was also a problem. The national vaccination programme decreased but did not eliminate inequalities in Covid-19.” Covid Inquiry Professor Bambra previously gave evidence in June 2023 on the deep health inequalities across the country in the lead up to the pandemic and the lack of attention to social inequality in pandemic planning. You can follow the presentation of evidence on the Inquiry’s YouTube channel which can be found on the . The report from Professors Clare Bambra and Sir Michael Marmot is available in the of the Inquiry website where you can also find out more about inquiry and the proceedings. Find out more The Unequal Pandemic: Covid-19 and health inequalities, and colleagues co-authored by Professor Clare Bambra on Health Resilience. – Prof Bambra’s work at Â鶹´«Ã½ – Prof Bambra’s work at Â鶹´«Ã½From , and Share: Latest News Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from Â鶹´«Ã½ to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Student leader drives misogyny law change A Â鶹´«Ã½ student leader has helped change the law after creating a petition to make misogyny a hate crime, which gathered over 114,000 signatures, prompting action in Parliament. published on: 12 June 2026 Freemen of Â鶹´«Ã½ see construction of new Castle Leazes The Freemen of Â鶹´«Ã½ and other key stakeholders have become an indelible part of new student accommodation at Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Castle Leazes. published on: 12 June 2026 Facts and figures
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