Improving health and wellbeing

Healthier and happier lives for people in Devon

We want everyone in Devon to live longer healthier and happier lives and to be more active.

We are seeing increasing demand for services, with more people living with long term health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, respiratory problems, and epilepsy – but we also know that poverty and deprivation is linked to poorer health and wellbeing.

Our overall aim is to increase life expectancy and reduce health inequities between different areas of Devon.

Additionally, we need to respond to insecurities and vulnerabilities that have been exacerbated by COVID-19.

Why is this a priority?

Devon has an ageing and growing population with proportionately more older people than England as a whole. The population is set to grow by 88,000 (11%) over the next 20 years, with low growth in under 65s (2%), with considerable growth in the older population (94% increase in people aged 85 and over).

More adults have complex health needs and are living with them longer.

Devon’s young people have generally good health, but hospital admissions in children and young people are considerably higher for mental health conditions, self-harm and injuries. This gap is even wider for vulnerable groups such as disadvantaged and looked after children.

Life expectancy has remained marginally similar over the last decade with people living their remaining 10 to 15 years of life in poorer health. This gap is starker across areas with higher deprivation as well as minority groups and different communities.

Recruiting and retaining a sufficient workforce is increasingly difficult across the country, seriously impacting on the availability of services and the effectiveness of our health and care system.

Resolving these workforce challenges is key to the Council’s ambition, including our digital future, skills, sustainable travel, carbon-reduction and climate change, family and carer support, community leadership and the wider economy

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected health and wellbeing?

• Whilst in Devon COVID-19 cases and deaths were some of the lowest in the country, the real health impact of the pandemic will be felt elsewhere in the health system and the impact of long COVID is still emerging and will add more pressure. Periods of recession correlate with higher prevalence of common mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, substance disorders, alcohol misuse, and of suicidal behaviour
• The effects of increased poverty and deprivation will have a greater impact on the health of people living in our most deprived communities.
• The pandemic has shown the social care sector to be resilient, resourceful and committed. The commissioned workforce has delivered fabulous care, at great personal risk. Yet, it remains (generally) poorly paid and undervalued. National investment is needed to reward staff fairly for the crucial work they do.