About the Devon ICB

Facts and Figures

Devon is one of the largest counties in the UK, with a population of 1,271,620 (weighted population of 1,342,794) spread across an area of more than 2,500 square miles. This makes Devon’s population density one of the lowest in England at 1.27 people per hectare (UK average is 28.1).

It is an area of many contrasts, with varied landscapes including remote rural, coastal and environmentally sensitive areas, interspersed with villages and historic market towns, where affluence sits alongside some of the most disadvantaged areas in England.

One Devon

The county is also home to a complex care market of independent and charitable/voluntary sector providers, plus many local voluntary sector partners across our neighbourhoods.

There are also alliances and joint working across a range of other areas including, medicine and dentistry, radiology, neonates, cancer and critical care.

In terms of demographics, Devon has an ageing and growing population with increasing long-term conditions, co-morbidity and frailty. The population is older than the England average has there is a disproportionately small working age population relative to those with higher care needs. This places increasing pressure on the health and care system.

Devon has complex patterns of urban, rural and coastal deprivation, hotspots of urban deprivation are evident, with the highest overall levels in Plymouth, Torbay and Ilfracombe. Many rural and coastal areas, particularly in north and west Devon experience higher levels of deprivation, impacted by lower wages, and a higher cost of living.

Significant inequalities exist across Devon, with people living in deprived areas and certain population groups, experiencing significant health inequalities as a result. People living in more deprived areas have poorer health outcomes caused by modifiable behaviours and earlier onset of health problems than those living in the least deprived communities. This leads to lower life expectancy and lower healthy life expectancy in these communities, coupled with higher and earlier need for health and care services.

The proportion of the population providing unpaid care is increasing, with higher levels of the One Devon population caring for relatives, both the physical and mental health of carers can suffer as a result.

The ICB

NHS Devon Integrated Care Board has an annual budget of £3.7 billion and is responsible for commissioning the majority (two-thirds) of NHS services for the county, including planned care, urgent care, primary care, community care, maternity, mental health and children and young people’s services.

Devon Local Care Partnerships (LCPs)

Local Care Partnerships (LCPs) are collaborations between a wide range of organisations and groups who help people live happier and healthier lives.

Many factors affect people’s health and wellbeing from their homes and personal finances to their education and employment. LCPs bring together the organisations and groups that provide these services (and many others) to better support people and communities.

Devon has five LCPs across the county:

1. Northern DevonOne Northern Devon is a partnership of organisations that recognise that unfair and avoidable differences in social, economic and environmental conditions affect the opportunities people have to lead healthy and happy lives. If we can tackle problems like unsuitable housing, poor employment prospects and social isolation, we can help prevent the poor health that results from such factors. One Northern Devon collaborates to increase impact and reduce waste to best tackle inequalities and improve health and wellbeing for the people and communities of North Devon and Torridge.
2. Eastern DevonThe Eastern Devon LCP covers a large area from Axminister to Okehampton and includes Exeter. The LCP is a partnership that, by aligning resources and efforts, will collectively seek to make a difference to the lives of people in East Devon and Exeter.
3. South DevonThe South LCP brings together health and care services with partner organisations to help people and communities in the South locality live better lives. The LCP covers a large area from Bovey Tracey to Dartmouth and from Dawlish to Totnes and includes Torquay and large areas of Dartmoor.
4. West DevonThe West Devon LCP covers a large area surrounding Plymouth such as Ivybridge, Kingsbridge and Tavistock that are within the Devon County Council boundary, but generally face towards the Plymouth footprint for using services.
5. PlymouthThe Plymouth LCP has been in place for a long time. In 2014 we started our journey to integration and have forged strong relationships between Plymouth City Council, the NHS, primary care and other local health and care providers like Livewell Southwest, alongside third sector and voluntary, community organisations. At the heart was a focus on tackling health inequalities and meeting the needs of the whole person, ensuring they received “the right care, at the right time, in the right place”. This ambition formed part of the Plymouth Plan, which remains the city’s overarching Strategic Plan setting the vision, ambition and direction until 2034.