The spotlight on health and care services has never been brighter, with things like the Covid-19 pandemic, hospital overcrowding, young people’s mental health, and people living longer all contributing to pressures on our health and care system.
Alongside these pressures, various studies by the Health Foundation have shown the general state of people’s health is in decline. This is further supported in a report published by Lord Darzi in September 2024 showing how health decline contributes to the NHS being over-stretched.
We want to shift the balance from waiting until people are unwell, then treating them in hospitals, to a greater focus on keeping people healthy and well in our communities.
With declining health and these extra pressures on our current health and care system, a better way of organising local health and care services is needed for people in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Healthier Together 2040 is for everyone living in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire who uses health and care services now and into the future.
To ensure everyone is able to access health and care, we are identifying and working with groups of people who may need the most support in future, including:
children and young people
people with multiple health needs who are also disadvantaged, such as those living with a learning disability, drug/alcohol dependency, or homelessness
people living with multiple long-term conditions (like pain, diabetes, or depression) who are working and may be caring for others
older people with multiple long-term health conditions which impact their day-to-day lives
