Keeping Somerset healthy

We want to support the health and wellbeing of the people of Somerset, helping people live longer and in better health – we can do this by all working together to consider how we deliver health and care for the benefit of all.

Our vision for Somerset clearly sets out our shared ambition to create a thriving and productive county, focused on improving people’s lives.

It is important that we work together to create an approach where all partners, private and voluntary sectors focus on the health and wellbeing of our people and communities, so it is at the heart of everything we do.

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We recognise that achieving this is a big challenge.  Resources are limited and we will need to work closely together with each other and local people to ensure we can make the most of what we have now as well as in the future.

In Somerset, we want people to live longer, and in better health – helping them to live as independently as possible for as long as they can. Over the next 25 years, we predict that our population will grow by around 15% with the number of people aged 75 and over, doubling. We also know that around 40% of ill health could be prevented. 41% of the adult population is overweight, and 26% are obese – making people at greater risk of developing diabetes, cancer or heart disease.

To meet these challenges, we need to think creatively; working together to find solutions which allow us to improve the quality-of-care people receive while maximising the finances, workforce and other resources we have at our disposal. It is important we consider how best to support people to live healthier lives, prevent avoidable illnesses and ill health where possible, and when people do get ill, we need to make sure that they are able to get access to the right care and support at the right time.

Our focus now will be to consider collectively how we can best make use of what we have to improve lives and prevent ill health.  Below we have outlined some helpful links for people interested in understanding how they improve their health and stay well.

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With plenty of information on how to stay well and support your health the council’s health and wellbeing pages are packed full of supportive advice and guidance

Healthy Somerset – Public health portal for Somerset

For information and support on how to stay well, you can find plenty of advice on NHS Somerset’s website

Stay well - NHS Somerset

Supporting your mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health.  There is a lot of support out there for people, whether its advice on looking after your well-being or you or someone you love needs to speak to someone about how they are feeling – find some relevant links below: