Overview

Within Somerset County Council’s Public Health team, we have a dedicated team responsible for Healthy Ageing.

Get in touch

• Please get in touch with any queries at PublicHealth@somerset.gov.uk
• Or other types of queries contact Somerset Council

Who we work with

Health and care services in Somerset have been working together closely over the past few years to improve services and provide more joined up care for the people of Somerset. In December 2020, we were formally designated as an Integrated Care System (ICS).

In Somerset, we have already achieved a lot by working in partnership; this has been strengthened through our response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

These changes have been made possible by different organisations – NHS hospitals, GPs, councils, care homes, commissioners, voluntary and community organisations and others – joining forces to agree and plan for local people’s needs.

Find out more: Integrated Care in Somerset – Somerset NHS

There are numerous organisations involved in ageing well activities across Somerset. Explore some of these organisations and find out about what they do and where to get information:

Adult Social Care

The Adult Social Care Provider Engagement Network communicates and engages with local providers of adult social care services

Find out more: Somerset Provider Network

Community Council for Somerset (CCS)

The Community Council for Somerset is a UK charity, inspiring and enabling positive change for Somerset’s people, places and enterprises with a diverse team of passionate local experts.

NHS

The NHS website provides a wealth of information including:

• Health A – Z
• Live Well
• Mental health
• Care and support
• NHS services

NHS Somerset

• NHS Somerset was previously called Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
• A statutory body responsible for planning and buying healthcare services for around 580,000 people across Somerset
• NHS Somerset works with patients, the public and many partners, including local hospitals, local authorities and local voluntary and community groups
• Their goal is to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Somerset
• Find out more: Homepage – NHS Somerset

Public Health, Somerset Council

• Somerset Council have the responsibility for public health
• The public health objectives we are focusing on in Somerset are to reduce health inequalities and increase life expectancy
• We will achieve this through a wide range of targeted public health programmes to promote better health
• More information is available at Somerset Council Public Health

Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP)

• Charitable trust working to Increase the health and happiness of residents in Somerset through physical activity and sport
• Information on being active at home, walking, fit for surgery, long term health conditions, health walks and much more
• Find an activity, class or event
• Information on proactive exercise referral scheme (gym referral)
• For all information from SASP please visit: Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (sasp)
• Phone 01823 653990 or email enquiries@sasp.co.uk

Somerset Age UK

• Ageing well exercise classes
• Monthly Ageing well and falls prevention newsletter – email ageingwell@ageuksomerset.org.uk to be added to the mailing list
• Other Age UK services (Befriending, Benefits, Info and advice). For more info email info@ageuksomerset.org.uk or phone 01823 345610
• Age UK have produced a useful booklet: Guide to later life in Somerset and North Somerset. Your local health and wellbeing guide
• Read more: Age UK Somerset

Somerset Community Foundation

Somerset Community Foundation is a charity that helps passionate people in Somerset change the world on their doorstep. They fund local charities and provide rewarding and impactful ways for donors to give to the causes and places they care about.

Somerset Foundation Trust (SFT)

• Somerset NHS Foundation Trust via their Care of the older person service diagnose and treat conditions that are common in frail, older people such as stroke, dementia, falls, complex Parkinson’s disease, bladder problems and osteoporosis.
• Referrals can be made via GPs.
• Find out more: Care Of The Older Person – Care Of The Older Person – Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

SPARK Somerset

• Information, advice, training and support to the voluntary and community sector in Somerset
• SPARK Somerset run a volunteer Service, inspiring people to get involved and make a difference in their communities
• More information is available on the SPARK Somerset website.
• You can contact SPARK directly on 01458 550973