Welcome to the online version of our Trust strategy 2025-2030. The content on this page was taken from our strategy document, created in June 2025. To navigate between chapters, please use the buttons at the bottom of this page. Alternatively, if you would like to view the full document, please download a copy here.
Chapter two: challenges and opportunities
Across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight we have diverse populations. Understanding their varying health needs and working with our patients and service users, staff, partners and local communities is crucial to address and reduce health inequalities, tackle lifestyle factors and the wider impacts on health so that people can thrive.
- A growing proportion of our residents are 65+ (over 20% in the region, 28% on the Island) and living with increasing age-related conditions such as dementia and arthritis. This percentage is set to grow by 3.4% by 2030.
- Obesity and diseases caused by smoking, alcohol and other lifestyle factors are increasing; people are living with multiple long-term conditions earlier in life and living longer in poor health. 31.6% of children in reception class and 54.3% of children in Year 6 were measured as overweight or obese.
- People in marginalised communities, such as racially diverse areas, experience variations in access, quality, experience and outcomes from their health services.
- Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is home to one of the largest armed forces and veterans’ communities in the UK (around 90,000 people).
- People living in rural areas face significant challenges due to the availability of public transport.
- Around 16% of our population are aged under 16. Although expected to increase by around 6,000 children by 2030, most areas will see a fall in this number. Some areas like Southampton and Portsmouth have large student populations with different health needs.
- People living in deprived areas experience more health risks, poorer outcomes and shorter life expectancies (around 3 years less) and have higher rates of preventable diseases compared to those in affluent regions.
- Environmental factors such as air quality, poor-quality housing and climate change and variations in income, access to transport, education and employment across our area have a marked impact on public health and life expectancy.
- Anxiety, depression and other mental health issues are rising, particularly among young people, and more people are not seeking help until they reach crisis point. Around 17,000 people have a serious mental health condition and around 16% of people in the region have depression.
We have gathered and analysed a wide range of information about our Hampshire and Isle of Wight population and the factors affecting people’s health and wellbeing. This has enabled us to identify five significantly sized groups of people within our population where particular health challenges may impact on their longer-term health and life expectancy. Recognising these differences and developing plans for early intervention and preventative support is an important part of our strategy.
- Mental health issues have become much more common among 16-24 year olds, but many young people still go undiagnosed, which can affect their education and future.
- Geographical areas where high obesity and severe obesity levels have been recorded particularly those which also have high child obesity rates.
- On average women generally live longer than men in the region, but in many deprived areas, they also spend more years in poor health.
- Geographical areas with high levels of alcohol dependency among white, British adults aged 45-66 years, where increased long-term health conditions would be expected.
- Geographical areas where the proportion of adults aged 65+ is high and projected to rise further which is likely to lead to an increase in dementia and multiple long-term conditions.
We have produced detailed reports with our partners to support this strategy which includes further analysis of our population. Download a copy of the reports:
The NHS and care system is also facing significant challenges, we must use our opportunity as a new organisation to work together, in a different, smarter and supportive way to collectively resolve these systemic issues and deliver outstanding care for people in our communities.
- Increased demand
- Workforce shortages
- Capacity constraints
- Inefficiencies and rising costs
- Funding and resource constraints
- Preventing sickness, not just treating it
- Making better use of technology
- Moving more care from hospitals to communities
- Reduced health inequalities
- Better health outcomes and experiences
- Engaging and empowering people
- Best start in life for children and young people
- Better mental health
- Healthy lifestyles
- Proactive care, prevention not just treatment
- Reduced poverty. Cleaner air. Better housing.
- Better use of data and technology
- System-wide working and joined-up care
- Efficiency, productivity and system sustainability
- Better recruitment and retention
- Improved career development opportunities
Our strategy must tackle our local health challenges and strengthen the health and care system.
- We need to focus more on empowering communities to manage their own health and prioritise preventative care, supporting physical and mental well-being at every stage of life.
- Collaboration with our partners is essential to address wider factors like income, education, employment, and environment, reducing health inequalities and doing more and better by working together.
- We must also tackle racial inequality, working closely with our staff and communities with respect for all cultures, to ensure equal access, care, experiences and outcomes for everyone.
- A key part of this approach must also be learning from people with lived experience - along with their families, carers, our staff and communities - continuing to co-produce and improve services that build trust and ensure meaningful support.
- We also need to ensure our staff have the training and support to enable them to work in partnership and demonstrate continuous learning and improvement.
Based on their feedback, we know that our strategy must also focus on our staff and enhancing their experience, so they can thrive, enjoy their work, and reach their full potential.
With increasing demand for care and workforce shortages, our dedicated staff often work long hours and under significant pressure.
It is vital that we create a culture and environment where everyone feels safe, valued, well-led, supported, and empowered. We must also work hard to improve our staff recruitment and retention and make our systems and processes more efficient, connected and easier to use.
Guided by the feedback and ideas we have received from our staff, we know we need to:
- Provide clear, timely communication
- Have an inclusive work environment where discrimination in all its forms is not tolerated
- Streamline systems for efficiency
- Enhance training and development
- Enable front line teams to design and implement change
- Ensure access to essential tools and information, including digital solutions
- Share learning and embed a culture of research, innovation and continuous improvement
- Early Intervention - identifying and providing effective early support.
- HIOW - Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
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Integrated Care System - a partnership of organisations that work together to plan, buy and provide health services in a specific geographic area.
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Life Expectancy - a measure of the average remaining years of life at a given age.
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Lived Experience - personal, direct, first-hand knowledge and understanding gained through living through an event, situation or condition.
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Preventative Care - focuses on maintaining health and preventing diseases before they occur.