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The health inequality gap in Britain is greater than it was during the post-World War I slump and the Great Depression, a study suggests.

Despite the continued rise in life expectancy, it is well documented that the gap between richest and poorest has actually been widening in recent years.

Researchers from Sheffield and Bristol looked at early death rates since 1921.

They found the current gap was greater than it was in the 1920s and 1930s, the British Medical Journal reports.

The UK spent the 1920s struggling to recover from WWI and was then caught up in the Great Depression of the following decade which was sparked by 1929 stock market crash in the US.

The Great Depression

From that period onwards health inequalities started narrowing until the 1970s, the analysis showed.

Researchers said this was mainly due to the boom in manufacturing in the traditionally poorer parts of Britain.

But since then the gap has widened, particularly during the last 20 years.

This means that the pledge by the previous Labour government to reduce the inequality gap between 1997 and 2010 is almost certain to be missed.

The report said: ‘Although life expectancy for all people is increasing, the gap between the best and worst districts is continuing to increase.

‘The economic crash of 2008 might precede even greater inequalities in mortality.’

Men in Britain can expect to live to 77.9 years and women to 82, according to official statistics. But in poorer areas this decreases to 75.8 for men and 80.4 for women.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics at the British Medical Association, said: ‘We need to look at the causes of ill-health to really make a difference. Doctors will need to work across sectors to point out the health impacts of policy decisions.’

This latest research echoes the findings of a report by the National Audit Office last month that accused Labour of wasting billions on failed projects trying to counter poverty.