News

Mar 16, 2010

NHS Devon outline vision for Health and Social Care services


Devon is known to be a healthy county, with life expectancy amongst the highest in England and overall positive health and wellbeing. Many people retire, and visit the county and there is a picture of idyllic rural and coastal life. In a recent review, NHS Devon has identified successes and future improvements in the health and social care services they deliver throughout the county:

In the last year, several successes in relation to Devon's Health Service provision were achieved:

  • More than 5000 people in Devon gave up smoking last year through our stop smoking service 
  • 84% of schools in Devon have achieved „Healthy Schools‟ status for happier, healthier children 
  • Care is co-ordinated at the front line, through 23 new integrated multi-disciplinary teams for adults and 19 for children 
  • £1million investment in alcohol services means the longest waits for treatment have halved whilst referrals have increased 
  • Access to NHS dentistry has improved with 40,000 additional dental places commissioned. 

    However, these mask the challenges NHS Devon face that impact on health and social care services:

    A higher than national proportion of the population in the older age groups, and this is rising rapidly, 
  • A large diverse geography that brings access challenges, and a rural population significantly greater than the national level 
  • Deep pockets of deprivation with more than 50,000 people in the 20% most deprived in the county, with higher than national rural deprivation in parts of Devon 
  • The impact of lifestyle factors as well as age and better detection on the rise of long term conditions in the population 
  • The biggest health challenges remain cancer, heart disease, stroke, dementia and addressing inequalities that lead to poorer health and wellbeing, more hospital admissions and shorter life expectancy.
Health outcomes and outcomes for children and adults will form the foundation of future plans with a view to

  • Improve life expectancy for people in Devon, bringing the areas of lowest life expectancy up to the level of the best 
  • Target extra support to address health inequalities for people in deprived communities and others who need our help most 
  • Help people who smoke, especially those who find it difficult to stop, to give up smoking and stay smoke free 
  • Support young people through positive action to reduce the levels of unplanned teenage pregnancies 
  • Enable good early starts to life, promoting the normality of childbirth and reducing the rate of caesarean sections 
  • Reduce the level of alcohol related harm in Devon, with less people admitted to hospital for alcohol related harm

    If you would like to tell us about your experience of a health or social care service in Devon or have a suggestion for service improvement contact LINk Devon, or click here to have your say on-line