Somerset is facing a series of health crises which require urgent action to address over the coming five years.

That's the conclusion of the Somerset Integrated Care Board (SICB), which co-ordinates the allocation of health funding and resources across the county.

The SICB has publishes its integrated care strategy, which identifies major health issues across Somerset and puts forward high-level solutions to address the various problems.

The care strategy was made public ahead of an SICB meeting held at its Yeovil headquarters on July 27.

The strategy identified the following eight major issues which will be addressed by health professionals within the next five years:

1. Ageing population: the latest population project suggest that the number of people in Somerset aged 75 and over will double between now and 2041. With elderly people typically requiring more care (and more intensive levels of care), this will put pressure on the care sector which is already struggling with recruitment and retention
2. Rural population spread: half of the Somerset population lives in rural areas, where access to services can be difficult due to recruitment, transport issues and pressure from housing growth. While urban areas are seeing increased health investment (such as the expansion of Ryalls Park Medical Centre in Yeovil, or the creation of a health and social care academy in Bridgwater), funding for rural health services has not always kept pace
3. Self-harm: there were 1,435 hospital admissions in Somerset for self-harm in 2020-21 – with the majority of these being young people. This is significantly higher than the England average, and points to the need for higher mental health support across the county
4. Elderly falls: There were 2,150 hospital admissions of people over 80 for falls in 2020-21, significantly worse than the England average. This issue is compounded by long waits for ambulances and a lack of health structure in rural areas – such as the former West Somerset area, which has a very large elderly population
5. Back pain: Official NHS figures suggest that more than 100,000 people in Somerset suffer from back pain – the equivalent of nearly one in six people across the county. In addition to affecting work productivity, this has implications for how pain medication is prescribed and how physiotherapists can be employed to alleviate people's pain
6. Smoking: While smoking rates are falling, around 80,000 people across Somerset are still smokers – around one in seven people. Smoking is "the most significant risk factor for ill-health", being linked to numerous cancers and long-term lung diseases
7. Childhood obesity: a age 11, 36 per cent of children were overweight in 2021/22 – which is better than the England average, but worse then in previous years. Obesity can lead to numerous complications later in life, such as diabetes and heart problems
8. Depression: In 2021/22, there were 8,575 people aged over 18 in Somerset suffering from depression. As with self-harm, this has strong implications of how medication is prescribed, how counselling is provided and how other services aimed at young people are distributed

The SICB said that its overall aim with the strategy was to increase life expectancy and quality of life for all Somerset residents, with an emphasis on reducing inequalities in life expectancy within different communities.

The average life expectancy in Somerset is currently 80 for men and 84 for women – though both sexes will experience up to 18 years of ill health towards the end of their lives.

In deprived parts of Somerset, life expectancy is three years lower – though people may only experience up to nine years of ill health.

The SICB said it would endeavour to integrate existing health and social care services more seamlessly – and has promised more rigorous engagement with patients over any major changes which are planned down the line.

A spokesman said: "We know from public health data, and feedback from residents, that needs vary both across and within communities.

"While it will make sense to provide some services once across the county, there is also a need to engage and involve neighbourhoods in how services are delivered in their area.

"Involvement with neighbourhoods will enable a more detailed conversation to happen on what is important within that neighbourhood and how organisations and services can work differently in that area to improve the experience and outcomes of residents."