Our population health profile

Who are our population? 

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Nottingham and Nottinghamshire has a growing population of around 1.1 million people. The city has a younger and more diverse population, while there is a higher proportion of older people in the county with over 21% aged 65 and over.

 

Current needs

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Across the country, one in five adults now has a mental health problem and this is higher in young people and those living in poverty. Demand for services is rising fast, with over 450,000 new mental health referrals each month in England and people often waiting longer for care. The lasting impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as other pressures like the cost-of-living crisis, means more people need our support.

Nottingham is one of the most deprived areas in England, ranking among the top 6% most deprived places. Key facts about our population locally show that: 

• People in the poorest areas die seven to eight years earlier and are more likely to be unwell for longer.
• People on low incomes are also four times more likely to have more than one long-term condition.
• Around 15-20% of people already live with more than one long-term condition, such as heart disease or diabetes.
• There's a high mortality rate among adults with severe mental illness.

We also have a key role in delivering regional and national services. For example, there is growing demand for forensic services, which support people with complex needs who may pose risks to themselves or others. There is increasing pressure to provide enough capacity and to reduce unnecessarily long stays in hospital and delays in getting the right care close to home.