• Two people siting on a bench looking across a river

    Local community

    The HCP has adopted a principle of co-production and engagement to make sure the local community is involved. We have already been invited to speak at meetings held by local community organisations, and held workshops with patient groups.

About Medway and Swale HCP

Medway and Swale HCP covers a population of about 427,000 people. It has some of the highest levels of deprivation in the UK with some wards being in the 10 per cent most deprived areas in the country.

  • Medway and Swale has a younger population compared to Kent and Medway as a whole.
  • The majority of the population are classified as White British, although the proportion of the population from black and minority ethnic groups is increasing.
  • A third of children aged 10 to 11 are overweight or obese and these children are more likely to stay obese into adulthood. More than 69 per cent of adults in Medway are classed as being overweight or obese.
  • The rate of premature mortality from cancer in Medway is higher than England, while the rate for Swale is similar. Local survival rates for cancer are among the lowest in the country. The HCP has the lowest and second lowest lung cancer survival rates.
  • In Swale, more than 21 per cent of people smoke, which is significantly higher than England (14 per cent). Medway's is similar to the national average.
  • The HCP has a high prevalence of hypertension (high blood pressure) and the prevalence of diabetes has been consistently higher than the average for England for a number of years.
  • There is a higher rate of suicide, particularly in men, than nationally and there is a two per cent higher prevalence of depression.

Our priorities and ambitions

The HCP has a programme board which sets the direction and oversees the development and delivery of the areas of work.

Medway and Swale Health and Care Partnership's vision is:

To put local people at the heart of the services we design and deliver, helping local people to realise their potential; to live healthier, happier lives; and to stay well and independent in their families, homes and communities for as long as possible.

We will do this by:

  • listening to local people and our staff to design and develop responsive, effective, equitable evidence-based care pathways
  • delivering high quality health and care services across care pathways from home to specialist care provider (both physical and mental health)
  • shifting the focus of care from treatment to prevention
  • meeting constitutional standards, and a delivering sustainable financial position
  • making the best use of health and care resources (people, money, estate, IT infrastructure).

We want people living in Medway and Swale to be as healthy, fit and independent as possible, participating in their local economies and communities, and being able to access the right help and support.

We know a strong health and social care system is pivotal to achieving our vision, and developing our workforce is critical.

We want Medway and Swale to be a great place to live, work and learn.

We want to create a vibrant voluntary sector and a strong sense of community in our towns and villages, where people feel connected, where we support one another across the generations, and where we feel in control of our health and happiness.

Get involved

If you are a member of a local organisation and would like us to give a presentation to your members, contact the Medway and Swale ICP.

You can also use the same email address to subscribe to Medway and Swale HCP's newsletter.