Nursing near you: South east England

Welcome to the south east of England

The south east is the most populous English region. Spanning Hampshire in the west to Kent in the east, it’s also the third largest English region by area.

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

This page was last updated in April 2024. We will update this page next in October 2024.

Key statistics for this region

Population health

This region has a population of 9,569,166
On average, 51.1% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (18,832 individual cases)
9,500 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (134.5 deaths per 100,000 people)
71,611 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 62.1%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 252,200 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (15.1%)
17,450 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (18.7%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 864 children died before their first birthday (3.1 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 647,600 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (23.1%)
44,270 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,185 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 2,500 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 7.9% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 80.4 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 84.0 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 65.3 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 66.0 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 45,405 NHS nurses and health visitors in this region
As of August 2023, there were 47.4 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the regional population
As of August 2023, there were 47,165 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 49.3 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the regional population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 44,714 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 2,452 nurses working in general practice
As of March 2023, 67,389 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 4.7%
Between January and December 2022, £219,106,506 was spent on agency registered nurses

9,569,169 Population of region

45,405 Full-time equivalent NHS nurses and health visitors

Statistics by local integrated care system (ICS)

NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,935,027
On average, 56.9% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (3,065 individual cases)
1,379 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (124.8 deaths per 100,000 people)
11,083 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 61.9%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 36,271 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (14.3%)
2,805 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (19.6%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 136 children died before their first birthday (3.5 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 115,673 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (26.1%)
5,825 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,205 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 430 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 10.5% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 80.5 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 84.5 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 67.1 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 66.9 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 8,552 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of August 2023, there were 44.2 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of August 2023, there were 8,877 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 45.9 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 8,448 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 429 nurses working in general practice
As of March 2023, 11,715 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 4.3%
Between January and December 2022, £47,499,248 was spent on agency registered nurses

NHS Frimley

Population health

This ICS has a population of 808,083
On average, 54.8% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (2,930 individual cases)
1,255 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (115.2 deaths per 100,000 people)
11,804 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 62.7%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 24,499 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (10.3%)
1,475 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (16.2%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 101 children died before their first birthday (2.1 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 59,104 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (15.5%)
5,750 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,059 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 310 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 5.0% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 81.4 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 84.7 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 67.1 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 68.1 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 3,758 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of August 2023, there were 46.5 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of August 2023, there were 3,882 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 48.0 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 3,713 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 169 nurses working in general practice
As of March 2023, 4,545 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 3.8%
Between January and December 2022, £22,818,320 was spent on agency registered nurses

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,916,638
On average, 55.0% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (5,274 individual cases)
2,385 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (160.4 deaths per 100,000 people)
17,359 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 61.2%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 58,836 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (21.7%)
4,390 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (23.1%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 199 children died before their first birthday (3.4 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 152,940 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (25.9%)
8,985 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,120 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 440 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 5.9% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 79.7 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 83.2 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 62.8 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 63.3 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 11,324 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of August 2023, there were 59.1 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of August 2023, there were 11,768 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 61.4 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 11,179 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 589 nurses working in general practice
As of March 2023, 18,532 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 5.1%
Between January and December 2022, £43,631,508 was spent on agency registered nurses

NHS Kent and Medway

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,966,153
On average, 27.3% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (3,853 individual cases)
2,553 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (154.8 deaths per 100,000 people)
14,347 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 57.2%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 64,131 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (18.8%)
4,485 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (22.2%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 199 children died before their first birthday (3.6 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 147,488 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (30.0%)
8,275 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,128 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 580 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 9.4% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 79.1 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 82.9 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 62.7 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 63.6 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 8,724 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of August 2023, there were 44.4 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of August 2023, there were 9,085 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 46.2 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 8,561 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 524 nurses working in general practice
As of March 2023, 12,805 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 4.6%
Between January and December 2022, £25,509,985 was spent on agency registered nurses

NHS Surrey Heartlands

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,122,802
On average, 57.6% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (2,685 individual cases)
1,132 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (108.8 deaths per 100,000 people)
11,068 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 65.9%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 21,737 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (9.4%)
1,210 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (12.9%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 95 children died before their first birthday (2.7 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 53,111 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (14.8%)
5,380 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,124 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 310 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 9.1% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 81.7 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 85.1 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 67.8 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 69.7 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 4,313 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of August 2023, there were 38.4 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of August 2023, there were 4,523 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 40.3 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, all 4,313 were Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 209 nurses working in general practice
As of March 2023, 5,327 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 3.9%
Between January and December 2022, £44,398,690 was spent on agency registered nurses

NHS Sussex

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,820,464
On average, 54.9% of cancers were diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 in 2021 (4,090 individual cases)
2,175 deaths among people aged under 75 were from preventable causes (143.0 deaths per 100,000 people)
17,033 people aged under 65 were diagnosed with dementia in 2023. The estimated dementia diagnosis rate for people aged under 65 is 63.8%.
Between 2021 and 2022, 46,726 children under the age of 16 came from low-income families (16.3%)
3,085 children aged 10 and 11 in school year 6 are obese (18.3%)
Between 2019 and 2021, 134 children died before their first birthday (3.1 infants per 1,000)
Between 2018 and 2023, 119,284 eligible people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check (26.2%)
10,055 emergency hospital admissions were due to falls in people aged 65 and over (2,471 emergency hospital admissions per 100,000)
Between 2020 and 2021, 430 additional deaths occurred in winter compared with other times of the year. Between August 2020 and July 2021, 7.9% of deaths were excess winter deaths.

Life expectancy

The life expectancy at birth for males is 80.0 years
The life expectancy at birth for females is 83.7 years
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for males is 64.2 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.
The estimated average healthy life expectancy at birth for females is 64.2 years. This is a rough estimate due to missing data for a significant number of Local Authorities.

Workforce planning

There are 8,735 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of August 2023, there were 48.0 NHS nurses and health visitors per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of August 2023, there were 9,030 nurses in Hospital and Community Health Service and GP settings (excluding health visitors)
There are 49.6 NHS nurses and GP nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 8,499 Hospital and Community Health Service Nurses (excluding health visitors)
As of August 2023, there were 531 nurses working in general practice
As of March 2023, 14,465 fixed-term equivalent days had been lost to workforce sickness
As of March 2023, the overall workforce sickness rate was 5.2%
Between January and December 2022, £35,248,754 was spent on agency registered nurses