This is the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (2011 update) for Sutton and Merton which describes local health needs, the inequalities that exist and ways we can continue to tackle them. 

NHS Sutton and Merton Public Health Directorate have worked with the Strategic Director of Social Services and Housing and the Joint Acting Strategic Directors of Children, Young People and Learning Services in the London Borough of Sutton, and the Director of Community and Housing and the Director of Children, Schools and Families in the London Borough of Merton to update our Joint Strategic Needs Assessment with the latest available data and add new commentary to describe the changing needs of our local communities and to start to look at future need. 

A range of data collection methods and analyses have been employed using a variety of national and local data sources, drawing on epidemiological information that describes the health status of our population, as well as reviewing the  effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of relevant health and social care interventions where this is available. We also include information from consultations with the public telling us what is important for their health and wellbeing and comparative information about the levels of service available to and used by different populations where this is available. We hope that bringing together this range of information into this report will make the information accessible to all who are interested in it.

In 2011, both Sutton and Merton continue to be “healthy” in comparison with much of London, but within each borough there are unacceptably wide differences in life expectancy and death rates for some of the major causes of death. These inequalities are reflected in key predictors of health and wellbeing such as low birth weight babies, teenage conceptions and smoking prevalence. 

The 2011 JSNA refresh focuses on both the health and social care needs of the population of Sutton and Merton and looks at some of the wider determinants of health and wellbeing. Strong partnerships and innovative ways of working are important in order to reduce health inequalities. This report provides information about Sutton and Merton that will help us to address inequalities and to support Local Authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups as they prepare to take responsibility, jointly, to improve the health of the local population.

Developing the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment is a continuous process. The core data set will be updated again next year and we will continue to add other findings from more detailed pieces of work to enhance our understanding of the health and wellbeing of our local population.  

If you have any suggestions on how to improve both the format and the information sources please email 

fiona.harris@swlondon.nhs.uk,

julia.groom@swlondon.nhs.uk, or

sylvia.godden@swlondon.nhs.uk  

Acknowledgements

A report like this is only possible through the help and dedication of many people:

Lead authors and editors 

Fiona Harris Joint Consultant in Public Health (Sutton)

Sylvia Godden Public Health Intelligence Specialist

Julia Groom Joint Consultant in Public Health (Merton)

PCT contributors:  

Dr Val Day - Interim Director of Public Health

Clare Lowrie-Kanaka

Barry Causer

Local Authority contributors:     

Geraldine Abram (Merton)

Michael Sutherland (Merton)

Michael Pierce (Merton)

Kelly Marshall (Merton)

Shamal Vincent (Merton)

Andrew Clark (Sutton)

Corinne Delahunt (Sutton)

Iain Yates (Sutton)

Andrew Jackson (Sutton)

Steve Shew (Sutton)

Jan Gransden (Sutton)     

We are grateful to all those who contributed and advised us and hope that the data and analysis will help to bring about improvements to the health and wellbeing of local people and to reduce the health inequalities experienced by residents of our boroughs.

Dr Val Day

Interim Director of Public Health – NHS SW London (Sutton and Merton)