Our Region
Figure 1: Map of Southwest Peninsula and acute healthcare providers (NHS Trusts) within the region
The South West Peninsula
of the United Kingdom is geographically and demographically unique. It is
the
oldest region in
the UK, with a average age of 48 (compared to 40 in the UK). It contains a variety of communities
underrepresented in
research and underserved in terms of healthcare provision. Within it are some of poorest populations
in
the
UK,
including a number of coastal communities (see figure 2). Much of the region is geographically
isolated.
It
is served by
a small number of technologically integrated healthcare providers (see figure 1).
This translates into a population with a high disease prevalence, spread across a wide geographical
area
with a shortage
of health and social care professionals to care for them. The need to develop innovative technology
based
healthcare
solutions across the South West Peninsula is immediate and pressing, but provides a context and
opportunity
for the
rapid development of such technologies to improve the health of region, and the UK.
Household deprivation
Population age
Figure 2: Maps of deprivation and age across the South West Peninsula of the United Kingdom. Source: Office for National Statistics
