Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new five-year strategy to improve care for people across the area. The strategy has been shaped by the views of over 10,000 people, including patients, carers, staff and community partners.
The Trust provides mental health, learning disability and community services across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Its new plan sets out how services will become more joined-up, more accessible and more focused on supporting people to live well.
It also reflects the wider direction of travel across the NHS, aligning closely with national plans for the next 10 years. The focus on community-based, preventative and more personalised care is central to how the NHS will adapt to meet rising demand and changing population need. This shift is a key reason the Trust was created – to bring services together and provide a more consistent support across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The strategy sets out four clear aims: improving health outcomes, delivering outstanding care, improving staff experience and delivering value for money. Each aim is backed by specific goals and will guide how the Trust plans and delivers care in the years ahead. The strategy will be implemented through detailed delivery plans for clinical divisions and corporate services, connected and aligned to the strategic aims and goals.
For the remainder of the 2025-26 financial year, the Trust will prioritise a number of improvement programmes, including new neighbourhood teams, enhancements to adult mental health services and better support for people living with frailty. It will also continue to deliver improvements linked to becoming a single NHS organisation following the merger in October 2024 - such as improving digital systems and making it easier for staff to work together.
More than 4,000 people shared their views through surveys, with thousands more involved through workshops, events and conversations. Staff were also closely involved, helping to shape how the Trust supports its workforce and the kind of culture it wants to build.
Ron Shields, Chief Executive of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are proud to launch a strategy that reflects the priorities of the people we serve and the staff who deliver care every day. It brings together everything we heard from local people, our staff and partners. It reflects our role as a community and mental health provider and the importance of working in new ways to meet demand, support staff and keep care focused on what matters to our people.”
Bethany Devonish, a service user, said: “Being able to contribute and to be genuinely listened to gave me a sense of optimism. I hope this strategy helps more people feel heard and reminds us that we can be part of shaping something better.”
Len Cato, a dedicated volunteer with the St Denys Activity Group, is passionate about supporting people with mental health challenges. He also chairs the Black and Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) Carers Group, to address the unique struggles faced by these communities.
He said: “By getting members of the community and people with lived experience involved, the strategy is a document that is relevant to, and reflects the needs of patients, carers, staff and the community.”
Alex Heritage, Chief of Strategy and Transformation, said: “This plan reflects national NHS priorities and shows how we will lead the shift towards more preventative, joined-up care that is easier to access and closer to home. It has been shaped by thousands of conversations and is built to deliver real change.”
On this dedicated webpage you will find the strategy in full, an introductory video and the strategy plan on a page.