Archived decisions

                      Annexe C5

Theme 2 - Health and Well-being

Hampshire will be a place that supports the health and well-being of its communities by providing equal access to services for everybody; by reducing accidents and drug and alcohol abuse; by promoting a healthy work/life balance and opportunities for culture and leisure for everybody

What are the issues facing Hampshire?

Hampshire scores well on most indicators of health compared with the rest of England. However, this does not mean that there are not public health challenges facing the county.

Relatively low levels of illness and premature mortality among Hampshire residents as a whole compared with the rest of the UK masks wide health inequalities. There is also a close relationship between income inequalities and poor health.

The demographics of Hampshire are constantly changing. With a rising older population we need to rethink the services we provide in order to tailor them to meet the changing needs of our population.

Health inequalities still exist which means it can be harder for some people to access services than others. Those that are better off live longer and have fewer illnesses than the poor, similarly those on lower incomes are far more at risk from death or injury from fire than those on higher incomes. We want to see a Hampshire where all people have equal access to all services.

The number of older people staying in hospital longer than necessary is still an issue even through County Council delays have reduced by 50% this year, with strategies in place to reduce this further.

There is a high incidence of accidental death and obesity as well as problems with drug and alcohol abuse in Hampshire that need combined efforts to tackle them.

The numbers killed and seriously injured in road accidents although reducing still remains high and causes avoidable personal grief and economic costs to the community

Early years health and social care is known to improve children's life chances so efforts to support this crucial time should be co-ordinated and jointly resourced

Young people are less active due to changes in technology and leisure activities. This coupled with a fear of crime means that more young people are leading sedentary lifestyles that can cause ill health and obesity.

People are also working harder and longer and are generally more stressed. We need to make sure people have the ability and support they need to cope with this and encourage people to take time out for themselves by providing access to leisure and cultural activities for example.

How do we know?

    · Hampshire has an ageing population with a growth of 20.9% expected in the over 85 age group

    · The Hampshire rate of mortality for circulatory disease for the period 1999-2001 for persons aged under 75 was among the lowest in the country

    · The Hampshire cancer mortality rate for the same period for people under 75 was lower than the rate for England

    · In 2002-2002 Hampshire had the second highest rate on the country for admissions to hospital for fractures of the femur - which largely affects more older residents

    · Supporting independence of older people is important

    · Increase in obesity and drug and alcohol dependency

    · Changing nature of `leisure' -i.e. couch potato

    · Mental health problems on the rise

What is already happening?

    · The Strategic Health Authority, local Primary Care Trusts and the Public Health Development Network are just some of the agencies working to improve the health of our communities, but it is in recognising the lifestyle and social determinants (such as jobs and housing) that contribute to our health provide ways we can work together to really affect change.

    · All NHS local delivery plans include a health inequalities section devoted to programmes aimed at preventing poor health outcomes by reducing smoking among pregnant women, promoting breast feeding and reducing teenage conception rates and deaths from coronary heart disease and cancer

    · The County Council and Primary Care Trusts, facilitated by district Councils through the planning process, will provide 500 nursing care beds over the next 3 years.

    · The NHS has embarked on a `Healthfit' project, which aims to produce a sustainable reconfiguration of health services in Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight, driven by the health service needs of the population, rather than the needs of institutions and organisations. Particular attention is being paid to emergency care, services for older people, and cancer, maternity and paediatric services

    · Hampshire County Council has a Health scrutiny function, which means that it has a responsibility to scrutinise the health provision for our communities and challenge where areas of improvement can be gained.

    · The Local Transport Plan includes a strategy for reducing road traffic casualties which has been supplemented by new initiatives to achieve higher reductions as part of the Local Public Service Agreement

    · The Children and Young Persons Strategic Partnership are working together to look at ways of increasing life chances from an early age

    · Promotion of healthy living through Healthy Schools Programme and other curriculum activities, including healthy eating projects.

    · The Fire and Rescue Service provide ongoing education and information for the people of Hampshire on the dangers of fire.

    · The Fire and Rescue Service are working in partnership with the public and private sector to develop the use of sprinklers in homes as well as public buildings.

    · Research into future sustainable lifestyles under the Hampshire Natural Resource Initiative which is reviewing the potential for waste reduction especially in the areas of food management, the promotion of healthy living in the context of reducing waste and saving money.

What would we like to see in 10-15 years time?

Outcome

Health and social care services are affordable and accessible and delivered to all in ways that suit people who use them and that meet the needs of a changing society

What you told us you would like to see happen

Ensure that services respond to the needs of those that use them, especially older people

Increase awareness of available support and services available to people

Provide services that help maintain peoples independence, especially older people and those with disabilities

Adequate provision of care in ways that suit users

Outcome

Opportunities for culture, leisure and recreation are readily available and accessible for everybody in Hampshire

What you told us you would like to see happen

Provide adequate leisure, educational and cultural activities that everybody can access

Promote healthy lifestyles through accessing Hampshire's open spaces

Maintain independence and access for those with disabilities

Support the targets in the cultural strategy fro Hampshire

Outcome

Promote social cohesion and recognise the contribution people make to society and their communities, encourage an environment of shared values and responsibility, including spiritual well-being

What you told us you would like to see happen

Promote and provide good social support to help give people the emotional and practical resources they need

Harness the skills of our ageing population

Support the context for spiritual development

Ensure a good start in life by supporting mothers and young children

Promote healthy lifestyles

Outcome

Health and well-being in Hampshire is approached by dealing with prevention rather than cure and so reducing demand on services

What you told us you would like to see happen

Raise awareness and promote existing leisure services and encourage greater use

Develop services that support people in remaining healthy and so reducing demand on services

Address health inequalities to reduce demand on services

Work with business to develop healthy approaches to work/life balance and so reduce the incidence of mental illness

Develop a multi agency approach for the prevention of accidental death

What can you do to help? Some examples:

    · Keep healthy by choosing to walk rather than taking the car, or by taking regular exercise

    · Encourage your family and friends to eat more healthily

    · If you are feeling stressed try and take some time out to relax

    · Be aware of the dangers of substance misuse

    · Find out about support services that are available, for example if you are feeling stressed, isolated or need time out from caring for someone

    · Fit and maintain a minimum of one working smoke alarm in your house and plan how you and your family can escape if a fire occurs.

Contact for further information

Lead agency for health and well being and contact details.