ALARMING figures have revealed how Barrow and Furness has rates for certain illnesses and diseases higher than the national average.

Figures compiled by the House of Commons library showed how the constituency lagged behind other parts of the county and the North West in key areas for health.

Figures showed that the constituency’s rates were higher than the national average.

Statistics for 2019/20 provide by NHS Digital showed how the area had an obesity rate of 11.85 per cent, higher than the Cumbria average of 11.52, the North West rate of 11.77 and the England average of 10.50.

The data includes GP patients over 18 with a body mass index of at least 30.

Estimates also showed the areas within the constituency with the highest rates. Barrow Central and Abbotsmead & Salthouse both had a rate of 13.1 per cent.

The areas with the next highest prevalence were Ormsgill & Hindpool and Hawcoat & Furness Abbey with 12.9 and 12.7 per cent.

Coniston, Broughton and Kirkby, an area with some parts in Westmorland and Lonsdale, had the lowest rate on 6.6 per cent.

Other measures that put Barrow and Furness worse than the rest of the county included levels of the respiratory disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The area had a rate of 2.67 per cent compared with 1.94 in England.

Barrow and Furness also came off worse in comparison with the rest of England for rates of dementia, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and learning disabilities.

A number areas showed rates better than the national average.

These included depression, cardiovascular disease risk, chronic kidney disease and osteoporosis.

Barnsley East was the area with highest obesity rate, with 19.3 per cent of GP patients in that constituency classified this way.