What are the health issues facing North Hampshire?

Dr Hugh Freeman, Chair, North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group

We – North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group– are now three months into our life as a shadow body under the guidance of Hampshire Primary Care Trust. By April 2013 we will have full statutory powers and budgetary responsibilities.

 A lot of hard work to bring about these changes has already taken place and more is underway. If you would like to learn more about the new NHS and what we as a Clinical Commissioning Group are doing then do come along to one of our Road Shows in the next couple of weeks. 

Find out how you can play a part in shaping a healthy future for the people of North Hampshire. We will be holding four road shows at four different venues and the aim is to have a 60 Minute agenda where we share and exchange local health care information.  It’s your chance to make your voice heard and we would love to hear your questions and concerns.

One question we are anticipating is about how we decide what care to commission – that is buy – from health and social care providers.

 To help us make our decisions we use a tool called the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment which provides us with information on key health issues. It helps identify the health challenges in our area so that we can make the right decisions.

 The health challenges facing North Hampshire are –

 Lifestyle– lifestyle issues such as obesity and binge drinking have a significant impact on the use of NHS resources. Basingstoke & Deane district has similar numbers of obese people and binge drinkers as the national average. Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death locally and nationally.

Diabetes in North Hampshire is similar to the national average.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) deaths are lower than the national average .

Infectious disease– there is a low incidence of Tuberculosis (TB) relative to the national average

 Cancer– there is a similar proportion of people living with and dying from cancer as compared to the national average. But North Hampshire has more smokers and this is likely to have an adverse effect on cancer statistics in the future Children and young adults– levels of obesity are relatively higher in Basingstoke & Deane in both Year R and Year 6.  Worryingly high is the fact that 17.3% of Year 6 children are classified as obese.

 Older people– dementia figures are similar to the national average. But estimates suggest the numbers will double over the next 20 years.

 Mental health – the area has a higher than expected number of people experiencing depression, but cases of mental illness are lower than the national average.

Our vision at North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group for health care is firmly rooted in this local knowledge. We understand the needs of our population and are determined to meet these needs by commissioning services that focus upon preventative care and staying healthy; and where patients need healthcare that the right care is delivered at the right time in the right place. It is essential to delivering our vision that we ensure everyone for whom we are responsible gets the best quality and value health care possible within the resources available and that access is equitable and targeted to need.

Join us to hear more about all of this at one of these four venues this summer:

24th July– Shakespeare House Seminar Room, Shakespeare House Health Centre, Shakespeare Road, Popley, Basingstoke, RG24 9DT 26th July– Chawton Park Surgery, Chawton Park Road, Alton, GU34 1RJ

31st July– Hackwood Partnership, Essex House, Essex Road, Basingstoke, RG21 8SU

 1st August– Tadley Community Centre, Newchurch Road, Tadley, RG26 4HN