Now health bosses in Cornwall have unveiled a new te-year strategy which will aim to reduce that gap.
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care System (ICS) has published its first integrated care strategy which sets out the state of Cornwall’s health and what is being done to try and improve outcomes for people in the Duchy.
A key indicator is the difference in life expectancy for people living in different parts of Cornwall with men in the richest parts of Cornwall expected to live for seven-and-a-half years longer than those in the poorest parts. This gap has increased from five-and-a-half years in 2012. For women the gap is 5.1 years – up from 4.6 years in 2012.
The strategy looks at what affects the health and wellbeing of people in Cornwall and the impact that has on the demand for services. Cornwall’s ageing population is a key factor with the number of people aged 65 and over rising by 29,000 in the last decade and the largest section of that is those aged 70 to 79 which has increased by 21,900.
Additionally it highlights that one in 10 people in Cornwall live in communities which are considered to be amongst the most deprived nationally. And 17.4% of young people – aged 19 and under – are living in households which are struggling to make ends meet.
Cornwall has a higher than average rate of chronic disease and disability which means that men in general spend more than 16 years in poor health and women nearly 18 years. It was also highlighted that Cornwall has the third highest rate of suicide in the UK.
The strategy was presented to a meeting of Cornwall Council’s health and adult social care overview and scrutiny committee. Councillors heard that up to 80% of people’s health is determined by their lifestyle and the environment they live in rather than the healthcare they receive.
As a result the 56-page strategy focuses on what can be done to improve people’s health and wellbeing by improving their lifestyles and focusing on prevention of illness rather than having to react to illness.
The strategy sets out the need to ensure that this approach starts when children are born in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and continues through their lifetimes. It explains the need to make sure that people start well, live well and age well.
For children the strategy looks at all areas including educational attainment; mental health in young people; supporting children with Special Educational Needs and those with complex needs; and supporting children and young people living in poverty.
Among the targets set for children and young people the ICS is aiming to reduce the percentage of children in poverty; close the attainment gap for children; and reduce the number of hospital admissions among children and young people for self-harm and mental health conditions.
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The strategy’s ‘live well’ section focuses on what impacts the lives and health of people aged 25 to 64 and what can be done to improve this. A large part is focused on making sure that people continue to live well and prevent illness and disease.
There is also a key focus on mental health and the prevalence of suicide among this age group; as well as a need to reduce the amount of money being spent on adult social care in Cornwall which is more than 22% higher than the national rate.
To measure success in this area the ICS is looking to reduce the suicide rate in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to better than the national average or lower by 2027. It is also seeking to reduce the number of people and carers who feel isolated; cut the rate of mortality from cardiovascular diseases which are considered preventable among the under 75s; and reducing the number of people attending emergency departments.
For older people the strategy is seeking to maximise independence and deliver better care; and improve diagnosis rates for dementia amongst other improvements. It has targets to increase the quality of life for people receiving social care; increase the number of people receiving social care who can access all they need in their local area; and to increase the number of people having NHS health checks.
The ICS is also aiming to reduce delays in discharges from hospital; and improve the satisfaction among those who require and use social care services.
Now that the strategy has been published it will need to be approved by the local councils as well as partner organisations with an aim for it to be formally published along with delivery plans which have been drawn up. The strategy will continue to be developed and will evolve over the next 10 years and regular assessments and reports will be delivered back to councillors.
