Our Somerset Newsletter - March 2026

A new report from Somerset’s Director of Public Health highlights the powerful role physical activity can play in improving health, wellbeing and independence across the county and calls for a collective effort to help residents move more.

The Director of Public Health Annual Report 2025 titled ‘The Miracle Cure – Physical Activity for All’, which was presented at Somerset Council’s Executive and the Board of NHS Somerset, focuses on the benefits of physical activity and the opportunities to help people of all ages become more active in their daily lives and maintain their strength and balance to minimise the risk of falling and injuring themselves as they get older.

The report sets out how increasing physical activity can support healthier communities, reduce health inequalities and help people live independently for longer. The report also highlights how physical activity can help tackle some of the biggest health challenges facing communities, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and poor mental health.

Read more

A major digital transformation programme to improve the way people access and experience healthcare across Dorset and Somerset is now underway.

The Healthset programme, a joint initiative between Dorset County Hospital, Dorset HealthCare, University Hospitals Dorset, and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, has signed a contract with Epic to provide the electronic health record for the two counties.

Creating a single, joined up record will give health and care professionals a clearer, more complete picture of each person’s health and will replace a patchwork of existing IT systems, bringing together information from acute hospitals, community and mental health services.

This will help reduce delays, improve safety, and ensure the 1.4 million people living in the area don’t have to repeat their story every time they move between services or across county boundaries.

The Healthset team is now working closely with Epic to design and build the new system, with implementation planned for April 2028.

Read more here.

NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB), working in partnership with Spark Somerset and the Children and Young People’s Mental Health VCFSE Network, has launched a pilot Children and Young People’s Mental Health Innovation Fund to support community organisations delivering early mental health support.

The £50,000 fund was created to test a more accessible and proportionate approach to funding smaller voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations, and an opportunity to pilot new ideas that support children and young people’s emotional wellbeing.

26 applications were received from organisations across Somerset and you can find out who received funding in the full article here.

Blog: Helping smaller charities in Somerset get the funding they deserve - Spark Somerset

A Somerset farmer, whose mum spent years supporting her church and volunteering locally before becoming critically ill with RSV, is urging older people to get vaccinated and make the most of new rules which mean everyone over 75 can get the jab from April.

Previously, the RSV vaccine was available to older adults who were aged 75 to 79 years old to those who turned 80 years old after 1 September 2024, but from 1 April, the upper age limit is being amended so everyone over 75 can get the potentially lifesaving vaccination. It is also available to pregnant women from 28 weeks.

Sandra Aplin, who farms near Chard, says her mother, Alice Hodges, 82, spent two weeks in hospital after what began as ‘just a cold’ got dramatically worse in December 2024.

Before her illness, Alice was in good health and was an active member of her community, until RSV left her suddenly struggling to breathe.

Read more about what happened to Alice here.

Easter is just around the corner, and while some local services will be taking a break over the bank holiday, we want you to know that Open Mental Health is still here for everyone in Somerset. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because mental health doesn't take a holiday.

If things feel a bit much, you don’t have to face it by yourself. We have put together a Wellbeing Kit packed with resources to help you stay grounded and manage your mental health throughout the year. You can find it at: openmentalhealth.org.uk/stay-well-in-2026

Open Mental Health also have information on their website on taking care of yourself over the Easter weekend - including some gentle ways to look after yourself, and options if you need support..

A new specialist tuberculosis (TB) nursing service has launched in Somerset to support people through diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

The service, run by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, includes TB nurse specialists Jemma Evans and Kim Aspinall, administrator Kate East (pictured opposite), and consultants Dr James Davidson and Dr Muhammad Hassaan.

Their focus is on high‑risk groups, including people experiencing homelessness, substance dependence, recent imprisonment, or those who have migrated from countries where TB is more common.

The service supports patients with both active and latent (dormant) TB. Active TB treatment involves six months of strong antibiotics with challenging side effects, so the nurses provide intensive wrap‑around care – blood tests, eye checks, home visits, and regular phone contact.

They also work to reduce stigma, improve access to care, prevent delayed diagnosis, and limit transmission by reporting cases to the UK Health Security Agency, and offering latent TB testing to at‑risk groups.

Read more here.

In March 2025, the Government announced significant changes for the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England as well as for many other NHS organisations. As part of these changes, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) were asked to reduce their running costs by 50% and to reshape their focus, role and functions.

It was acknowledged that to achieve this, local systems would need to operate across larger footprints to benefit from the efficiencies of working at scale. In June 2025, NHS England and ministers formally approved the bringing together of three ICBs – BSW (Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire), Dorset and Somerset – into a new cluster.  

Over the next 12 months these three ICBs will work together as a ‘cluster’ before formally merging in April 2027.

As part of this change a significant reduction in running costs must be made. The new focus of the integrated care board is radically different - signalling a change in role and purpose as an organisation and will have a further significant impact on teams and staffing as the three ICBs come together as one team working across the new cluster.

The focus now is on building a strong future as a strategic commissioning organisation; through high quality and effective commissioning the cluster has a unique opportunity to make a difference local our people and communities by helping them to live happy and healthy lives.

NHS Somerset ICB Chairman, Paul von der Heyde, will be taking up a new position as Chair of the BSW Hospitals Group which comprises Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust.

Paul has been the Chair of NHS Somerset since December 2021, and the new ICB Cluster Deputy Chair across BSW (Bath & North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire), Dorset and Somerset since September 2025. 

During his time in Somerset, he has been widely respected for his commitment to partnership working and his focus on improving outcomes for local people. He has helped guide the organisation through complex challenges while maintaining a clear focus on quality, innovation and financial sustainability.

Paul will be taking up his new position from 1 April 2026.

More information is on Somerset ICB's website and on the BSW Hospitals Group website.

Pharmacists now represent one of the largest growing workforces in healthcare and are the third biggest health profession in the UK.

Somerset has one of the highest long-standing vacancy rates in the country, but NHS Somerset ICB is leading efforts to enhance the development and growth of pharmacists across the county – from community pharmacies, GP surgeries, primary care networks (PCNs) and hospitals - by visiting sixth form schools and colleges promoting pharmacy careers and showcasing opportunities through university placement activity.

In 2024, there were only five pharmacy applications across Somerset, which is less than 20% of what we need. Incredibly, since visiting sixth form schools and colleges this academic year, we have 42 students who have shown an interest in studying pharmacy, with 33 students undertaking work experience in pharmacy since September. Somerset NHS Foundation Trust alone has seen their pharmacy work experience requests increase by 287%.

This is vital work - a strong pharmacy workforce spread over our network will help to create a more accessible healthcare network in our rural county.

For more information, contact becky.barratt2@nhs.net

Somerset Council has launched the Somerset Health and Wellbeing Survey. 

The survey is a key opportunity for people across Somerset to share what matters most to them when it comes to their health and wellbeing - from accessing support and reliable information, to opportunities to live healthier, more active lives.

The insight gathered will directly inform how services are designed, delivered and improved across the county, helping us better meet the needs of our communities and tackle health inequalities.

The survey is open to all Somerset residents aged 18+ and will run until Monday 27 April. It takes around 10 minutes to complete, and participants can enter a prize draw to win a £50 shopping voucher.

Click here for details and to access the survey

Digital exclusion can affect people’s health, confidence, and sense of connection - but it doesn’t have to.

Since 2021, Spark Somerset have been working with community spaces and partners to run Spark iT Digital Cafés across the county, helping over 8,000 people boost their skills, confidence and wellbeing.

The cafés are also easing pressure on local NHS services, as Julie-Ann Jay from NHS Somerset ICB explains:

"The Digital Cafés help GPs and surgery teams, as they can signpost their patients to digital support. It's time-saving and helps reduce phone calls and queries to practice staff. The support goes beyond downloading an app - volunteers build networks and support our communities, they provide advice, guidance and friendship."

Read the new Spark iT Impact Reportto find out more. And if you’re know someone who would benefit from some help with using technology, please let them know about their local Digital Café.

Local partners have come together to launch the REGAIN Wellington Wellbeing Hub - a safe, confidential space for help, advice, or just a quiet chat over a hot drink.

Whether you need support, want to regain control of your life or just want to escape the cold for a bit, our doors are opening on 24 February 2026 to everyone living or working in Wellington. No appointment needed, no stigma, just friendly faces.

• When: Tuesdays from 24 February 2026, midday onwards
• Where: Kings Arms Community Hub, 4 High St, Wellington  

Let’s build a stronger, healthier Wellington together. See you there!

Sustainability Manger, Christine Young, from NHS Somerset ICB and Head of Sustainability, Energy and Carbon, Richard Harper, from NHS Somerset Foundation Trust, were proud to participate in the Somerset Sustainable Futures events for primary and secondary school children in Somerset.

The events featured a diverse collection of Somerset employers, charities, and organisations, all coming together to inspire students about careers and how they can contribute to a more sustainable future through an immersive and interactive green careers exhibition.

The events took place over two days in January and February at Taunton Racecourse. The highlight of the events was the keen engagement of the young people with exhibitors. Christine and Richard really enjoyed meeting and talking to our future sustainability leaders! This is the second year of the initiative, and it was another resounding success.

Bridgwater Community Hospital has joined together with partners to offer a supported internship for young autistic people, people with a learning disability, or those who identify as neurodiverse.

The internship is being run in partnership with Casa de Lusso nursing home, which is next to the hospital, the social enterprise, Discovery, which mentors and supports young people, along with University Centre Somerset - Bridgwater College.

The first intake of interns took place in September 2025, with eight interns placed across Casa de Lusso and Bridgwater Community Hospital. Pictured above is intern Harrison Small.

Read more here about the impact the interns are having at the hospital.