Improving Health report from the Sussex Community Foundation

I was very interested to read the recently-released Improving Health report from the Sussex Community Foundation, but it made for quite a difficult read at times, when you learn that poor health outcomes are more prevalent across East Sussex than the regional and national averages for the majority of health conditions. 

Here are a few other notable facts from the report:

• Bexhill Central has 6.19% of child carers, compared to a national average of 1.1%
• Alongside high premature mortality, emergency hospital admissions are sharply elevated in the most deprived neighbourhoods such as Whitehawk, Hollington, St Leonards, Sidley, and Broomgrove - where admission rates can be up to 60% higher than the national average.
• UK average of 7.5% of under 65 years claiming disability benefits - Sidley (0007E) – 23.19% and Sidley (OO7D) – 20.87%
• East Sussex consistently shows higher prevalence of serious chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, cancer, COPD and heart disease - all of which are closely linked to disability in middle age.

We know that health and wellbeing are crucial for a good quality of life, and therefore, it comes as no surprise that many people need to turn to a foodbank as their health or wellbeing declines. Through our advice service, we are able to step into the gap and help people access the services they need to see an improvement.