Dr Jenifer Smith
The first Isle of Wight JSNA is timely as it is able to inform the Island’s World Class Commissioning Strategy for 2009. Key priorities for the NHS that I have identified from the JSNA are:
Whilst overall life expectancy on the Isle of Wight compares favourably with that in England and the South East, and is increasing, there are inequalities in achievement within this. There are differences according to gender (life expectancy for men is 78 years whereas that for women is 83 years) and geographical location (there is an 8 year gap between the electoral ward with the longest and shortest life expectancy). The major causes of death underlying this are cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease. Reducing smoking, increasing healthy lifestyles and ensuring access to treatment services within these segments of the population would narrow the gap in life expectancy. Mental health problems are a significant cause of morbidity throughout our population. In young people, referrals to child and adolescent mental health services are high as are admissions to hospital associated with alcohol problems; we have very high rates of adults claiming incapacity benefit as a result of a mental health disease; our high, and rising, proportion of elderly generates substantial dementia within the population. There are strong links between health and wellbeing in children and health in later life. Amongst our children we have low educational attainment, a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, high prevalence of smoking, high rates of teenage pregnancies and high rates of dental decay. We should be a strong partner within the Children’s Trust to address the health and wellbeing of our children.
Whilst overall life expectancy on the Isle of Wight compares favourably with that in England and the South East, and is increasing, there are inequalities in achievement within this. There are differences according to gender (life expectancy for men is 78 years whereas that for women is 83 years) and geographical location (there is an 8 year gap between the electoral ward with the longest and shortest life expectancy). The major causes of death underlying this are cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease. Reducing smoking, increasing healthy lifestyles and ensuring access to treatment services within these segments of the population would narrow the gap in life expectancy.
Mental health problems are a significant cause of morbidity throughout our population. In young people, referrals to child and adolescent mental health services are high as are admissions to hospital associated with alcohol problems; we have very high rates of adults claiming incapacity benefit as a result of a mental health disease; our high, and rising, proportion of elderly generates substantial dementia within the population.
There are strong links between health and wellbeing in children and health in later life. Amongst our children we have low educational attainment, a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, high prevalence of smoking, high rates of teenage pregnancies and high rates of dental decay. We should be a strong partner within the Children’s Trust to address the health and wellbeing of our children.
