Statistics have revealed that Exeter residents living in the city's most deprived neighbourhoods can expect to live nearly 17 years less than those in its wealthiest areas.
Exeter City Community Trust and Health Opportunities Devon are determined to change that - and have jointly appointed a dedicated Health Lead to begin tackling the city's health inequalities head-on.
Laura McDonagh takes up the role with a clear mission: to develop programmes, activities and support shaped by the communities they are designed to serve
The appointment comes in response to growing evidence of health inequalities across Exeter, where people's chances of living a long and healthy life can vary significantly depending on where they live, their background and their circumstances
According to the Index of Multiple Deprivation, which is the official measure of poverty and disadvantage across England, where you live in Exeter can have a dramatic impact on how long you live. In the city's wealthiest neighbourhoods, people can expect to live into their 90s. In the most deprived areas, life expectancy drops to around 73 - a gap of nearly 17 years.
The appointment has been funded through a partnership between Exeter City Community Trust and Health Opportunities Devon, which works to improve health outcomes across the county by connecting communities with targeted funding and support.
The programme will be shaped by the people it is designed to serve. Exeter City Community Trust, the partner charity of Exeter City Football Club, has launched a city-wide health survey - inviting residents to share their experiences, challenges and ideas. The results will directly inform the support on offer, ensuring it is built around real needs rather than assumptions.
Laura said: "I'm really pleased to lead on this area of work and will draw on my experience in health and wellbeing to research the need and support the creation of new programmes and activities to reach the people who need us most in the city.
"I feel passionately about the need to reduce the health inequalities that exist, and the importance of creating opportunities with people to ensure provision is what they actually need to live their most rewarding and fulfilling lives.”
Laura added” "Our initial research has shown there are gaps between primary and secondary care. There is a group of people who have accessed all the resources available to them through primary care, but are not considered ill enough for secondary care. This may include people living with chronic pain, those on waiting lists for operations, and those with long-term physical or mental health conditions.
"Existing services are stretched, and I believe we can meet some of this need through our work in the community. We'll use the survey findings to look at needs by area, review what already exists and explore what we can establish to fill the gaps."
Laura will work in partnership with partner organisations in the city, local GP practices, and Public Health to ensure the programme connects with existing provision and reaches people who may currently fall through the gaps.
The Health in the City survey is now live and open to all Exeter residents. It takes just a few minutes to complete and all responses are confidential. The survey covers physical health, mental wellbeing and access to support - and every response helps build a clearer picture of what Exeter needs, bringing us closer to services that truly make a difference.
To access the survey, visit: bit.ly/3T2wnSZ
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