An ambitious new plan aims to help people live longer and healthier lives in the North East and north Cumbria by 2030.

Launched today, the Better Health and Wellbeing for All strategy recognises the region's health challenges from lower life expectancy to some of the highest rates of child poverty in England and sets a series of demanding targets to improve lives.

Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, chair of NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, said: "Our region has done a great deal to improve people's health, but the statistics still make for difficult reading.

"Sadly, people here still die younger and live with illnesses for longer than in other parts of the country - especially in our most deprived communities.

"In nine of our 13 local authority areas there is a healthy life expectancy of less than 60 years. There are only four areas in the whole of the south of England that are this low.

"Behind these figures are real people who could be living longer, healthier lives, and children who should be getting the best possible start in life.

"Not everyone has the same opportunities to be healthy because of where they grow up, live and work.

"That's why we need to be ambitious and clear about what we want to change, together.

"We have set a vision and ambitions which we hope will reduce the gap between us and the rest of England, so that all our communities can live healthier and happier lives.

The plan has been developed by the NHS, local councils and voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations who have come together as an Integrated Care Partnership for the region.

Facts and figures about the region's health paint a stark picture, showing just how much the plan is needed. We have the highest rate of drug-related deaths in England, the second highest rates for heart and liver disease, and some of the highest rates of suicide.

Child poverty is double the England average in some areas, while respiratory disease rates are much higher than average.