Nursing near you: South west England

Welcome to the south west of England

The south west is the largest English region by area, stretching from Cornwall in the west to Wiltshire in the east. It has the highest proportion of people aged 65+.

Overall, south westerners experience a higher life expectancy and lower levels of poverty and deprivation compared with other English regions.

This page was last updated in January 2025.

Key statistics for this region

Population health

This region has a population of 5,773,639
In 2023/24, there were 17,835 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 32.8, which is better than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 53,804 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 60.2, which is better than the England national average
In 2022, there were 7,411 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 135.7 deaths per 100,000 of the regional population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 80.8 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 84.1 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 33,692 NHS nurses and health visitors in this region
As of December 2024, there were 583.6 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the regional population
As of December 2024, there were 2,139 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.7 nurses per 10,000 of the regional population
As of November 2024, there were 2,943 community service nurses. This is equal to 51.0 nurses per 100,000 of the regional population
As of November 2024, there were 278 district nurses. This is equal to 4.8 nurses per 100,000 of the regional population
As of October 2024, 58,688 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.5%
As of October 2024, 13,192 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 22.5% of all workforce sickness absence days

5,773,639 Population of region

33,692 Full-time equivalent NHS nurses and health visitors

Statistics by local integrated care system (ICS)

NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire

Population health

This ICS has a population of 954,449
In 2023/24, there were 3,195 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 33.1, which is better than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 87,245 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 31.6 of those eligible, which is better than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 8,122 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 60.1, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 1,066 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 124.2 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 80.7 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 84.6 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 5,726 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 599.9 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 334 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.5 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 337 community service nurses. This is equal to 35.3 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 2 district nurses. This is equal to 0.2 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 9,872 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.5%
As of October 2024, 1,810 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 18.3% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Population health

This ICS has a population of 577,813
In 2023/24, there were 1,705 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 31.4, which is better than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 23,771 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 13.6 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 5,768 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 59.8, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 900 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 151.8 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is similar to the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 79.2 years, which is similar to the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 83.6 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 2,795 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 483.8 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 224 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.9 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 482 community service nurses. This is equal to 83.4 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 46 district nurses. This is equal to 8.0 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 6,109 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 7.0%
As of October 2024, 2,377 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 38.9% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Devon

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,232,580
In 2023/24, there were 3,430 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 32.4, which is better than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 86,119 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 24.1 of those eligible, which is worse than the Engand national average
As of 2024, there were 11,884 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 58.1, which is worse than the England national average
In 2022, there were 1,681 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 138.8 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 79.8 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 84.0 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 7,778 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 631.0 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 432 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.5 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 614 community service nurses. This is equal to 49.8 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 42 district nurses. This is equal to 3.4 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 13,278 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.4%
As of October 2024, 3,157 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 23.8% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Dorset

Population health

This ICS has a population of 785,932
In 2023/24, there were 2,255 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 33.0, which is better than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 26,918 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 11.7 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 8,126 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 56.8, which is worse than the England national average
In 2022, there were 1,057 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 135.2 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 80.2 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 84.5 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 4,837 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 615.5 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 313 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 4.0 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 644 community service nurses. This is equal to 81.9 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 14 district nurses. This is equal to 1.8 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 8,280 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.5%
As of October 2024, 1,831 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 22.1% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Gloucestershire

Population health

This ICS has a population of 652,666
In 2023/24, there were 2,240 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 34.5, which is better than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 47,942 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 25.0 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 6,396 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 65.1, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 818 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 132.1 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 79.8 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 83.6 years, which is similar to the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 3,465 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 530.9 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 226 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.5 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 435 community service nurses. This is equal to 66.6 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 21 district nurses. This is equal to 3.2 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 5,913 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.4%
As of October 2024, 1,447 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 24.5% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Somerset

Population health

This ICS has a population of 577,091
In 2023/24, there were 1,780 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 35.0, which is similar to the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 28,381 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 16.6 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 5,403 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 54.8, which is worse than the England national average
In 2022, there were 790 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 134.7 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 80.1 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 84.2 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 3,197 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 553.9 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 229 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 4.0 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 341 community service nurses. This is equal to 59.1 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 154 district nurses. This is equal to No data nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 5,543 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.5%As of October 2024, 1,046 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 18.9% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

Population health

This ICS has a population of 993,108
In 2023/24, there were 3,230 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 31.3, which is better than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 41,107 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 15.8 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 8,105 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 68.7, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 1,101 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 139.3 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 79.5 years, which is similar to the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 83.7 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 5,894 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 593.5 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 380 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.8 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 91 community service nurses. This is equal to 9.2 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were No data district nurses. This is equal to No data nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 9,694 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.2%
As of October 2024, 1,525 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 15.7% of all workforce sickness absence days