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Health and Wellbeing Topic Data

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Dorset residents are generally healthy, have a high life satisfaction rating and feel that the things they do in their lives are worthwhile. The growing number of older people will increase demand for health and social care services so it is important to use local evidence to anticipate need and target service provision as effectively as possible.

Health and wellbeing can be influenced by where we live, our behaviours, our work and our leisure activities. Health behaviours impact on both physical and mental health - and many people may be affected by more than one. Healthy populations live longer, and are more productive making a contribution to the economy as well as maintaining personal wellbeing.

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Health

  • Healthy life expectancy is the number of years a person would be expected to live in good health. In Dorset, there is a difference of 19 years between healthy life expectancy and overall life expectancy for males and females1.
  • 66% of adults in Dorset are classified as overweight or obese; worse than the national average and a great concern due to the life-threatening conditions it can lead to2.
  • Residents in Dorset are more likely to be unpaid carers: 12% of residents compared to 10% in England13. There are now around 3,000 registered carers in Dorset14.
  • Smoking prevalence continues to fall both nationally and locally. 9% of adults in Dorset currently smoke compared to 12% in England2.
  • The rate of people killed and seriously injured on the roads continues to be above average, possibly due to Dorset’s high proportion of rural roads4. Nationally more than half of all fatal collisions occur on rural roads3.
% year six children who are overweight or obese
% year six children who are overweight

Mental health

  • By 2029, we expect to see more than 10,000 people aged 65 or over living with dementia5. It is likely that an additional 1,900 informal carers will be needed to cope with this increase6.
  • Nationally, one in eight children and young people need support or treatment for mental health problems7.
  • Research suggests that the rate of those needing specialist mental health treatment was lower in the UK Armed Forces than that seen in the UK general population15.
  • During the course of a year, almost one in four of us will suffer from some form of mental health condition.8.
People aged 65+ with dementia
People aged 65+ with dementia

Substance abuse

  • In Dorset, admission rates for alcohol related harm is static9.
  • In Dorset, for every £1 invested in adult drug treatment services, a social return of £4 is generated.10.
  • Domestic abuse, mental ill-health and substance misuse have been termed a ‘Toxic Trio’ commonly found in families where harm to children has occurred.
  • 3,225 domestic abuse incidents were reported in Dorset last year11.
Toxic Traingle infographic

Improving outcomes

  • Health is mostly determined by social, economic and environmental factors. Promoting natural greenspaces, outdoor activities and social prescribing can therefore, be more effective than traditional services for reducing local health inequalities16.
  • Empowering people to have more say in their health and wellbeing is key to addressing inequalities, where those most needing services are least likely to access them.
  • Since 2015, LiveWell Dorset has been supporting residents to improve their health and wellbeing through targeted activity, weight, alcohol and smoking support12. 256 people were being supported in August 2021 in the Dorset Council area.
  • 73% of pathways started in the same period were for weight and activity support, however, all support programmes saw lower uptake during 2020 and particularly during lockdown17.
  • Weight and activity programmes show highest uptake in January-February each year, possibly reflecting New Year, New Start self-improvement plans. Alcohol programmes show lowest take-up (19%) following a positive assessment of need17.

Headline Figures

10,000

People aged 65+ living with dementia by 2029

3,225

Domestic abuse incidents in Dorset last year

19 years

Difference between healthy and overall life expectancy

31%

Dorset year 6 children overweight

66%

Dorset adults overweight

9%

Smoking prevalence in Dorset

Headline Figures

10,000

People aged 65+ living with dementia by 2029

3,225

Domestic abuse incidents in Dorset last year

19 years

Difference between healthy and overall life expectancy

31%

Dorset year 6 children overweight

66%

Dorset adults overweight

9%

Smoking prevalence in Dorset

Sources

  • 1 Health state life expectancy at birth by local areas, UK, 2019, ONS
  • 2 PHE Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) Indicators, 2020 data
  • 3 https://www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/road-users/rural/
  • 4 PHE Public Health Outcomes (PHOF) Indicators, 2020 data
  • 5 Dorset Council, 2019
  • 6 https://www.dementiastatistics.org/statistics-about-dementia/human-and-financial-impact/
  • 7 HNA of the Wellbeing and Mental Health of Children Young People in Dorset, NHS Dorset CCG, 2021
  • 8 Mind
  • 9 PHE Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) Indicators, 2020 data
  • 10 Alcohol and drugs prevention, treatment and recovery: why invest?, Public Health England, 12/02/18
  • 11 Community Safety Partnership Performance Statistics
  • 12 https://www.livewelldorset.co.uk/
  • 13 2011 Census, KS301
  • 14 Adult and Community Services, Dorset Council, April 2019
  • 15 UK armed forces mental health annual statistics: financial year 2020/21, Gov.UK
  • 16 Social prescribing: applying All Our Health, Gov.UK, 2022
  • 17 Joint Public Health Board LiveWell Dorset Performance Report, 2021

30 Reports

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14 Related Datasets

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  • Births Deaths and Natural Change by Country and Local Authority

    Published: 08 December 2020

    Local Authority births, deaths and natural change from Mid-Years 2002 to 2019

    Downloads: 761

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  • Data for EqIAs (diversity data)

    Published: 14 November 2020

    Various diversity data for Dorset with national comparators. For assistance in completing Equality Impact Assessments (EqIAs).

    Downloads: 767

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019- National and Dorset Council Ranks

    Published: 03 January 2020

    The English Indices of Deprivation helps identify and prioritise areas to assist the government and other agencies both national and local in narrowing the gap between deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of the country.

    Downloads: 1517

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset East Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset East SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1384

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset West Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset West SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1875

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Mid Dorset Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Mid Dorset SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1527

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - South East Dorset Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across South East Dorset SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1942

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset North Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset North SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1660

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset South Sub Unitary Geography (SUG) Maps

    Published: 11 December 2019

    This pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset South SUG area for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 1225

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  • Indices of Deprivation 2019 - Dorset Council Maps

    Published: 25 November 2019

    The combined map base pdf illustrates national deprivation levels at a small geography across Dorset for 2019. There are sixteen maps which look at a range of components of deprivation including health, income, employment, education and skills, living environment, crime and barriers to housing and services. There is also a multiple deprivation (IMD) map that combines all these aspects of deprivation to give us an overall picture for Dorset. The document also has a number of maps that look at specific aspects (sub domains) such as deprivation affecting children and outdoor living environment.

    Downloads: 990

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  • Local Area Interactive Tool

    Published: 28 February 2016

    An interactive spreadsheet for comparing data about children and young people across all local authorities in England. (external website)

    Downloads: 2568

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  • Public Health Outcomes

    Published: 28 February 2016

    Find out about differences in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy between communities. (external website)

    Downloads: 1920

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  • POPPI: Projecting Older People Information

    Published: 28 July 2014

    A population based database providing information on older people (external website)

    Downloads: 6173

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  • PANSI: Projecting Adult Needs and Service Information

    Published: 28 July 2014

    A population based database providing information on adults with special needs (external website)

    Downloads: 2273

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