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 January 2025.

Key statistics for this region

Population health

This region has a population of 9,080,825
In 2023/24, there were 29,990 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 32.5, which is better than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 79,503 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 62.8, which is better than the England national average
In 2022, there were 10,415 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 129.4 deaths per 100,000 of the regional population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 80.6 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 84.2 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 48,913 NHS nurses and health visitors in this region
As of December 2024, there were 538.6 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the regional population
As of December 2024, there were 2,005 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 2.2 nurses per 10,000 of the regional population
As of November 2024, there were 4,583 community service nurses. This is equal to 50.5 nurses per 100,000 of the regional population
As of November 2024, there were 319 district nurses. This is equal to 3.5 nurses per 100,000 of the regional population
As of October 2024, 77,330 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.1%
As of October 2024, 15,249 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 19.7% of all workforce sickness absence days

9,080,825 Population of region

48,913 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 1,804,061
In 2023/24, there were 5,925 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 31.3, which is better than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 123,340 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 23.9 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 14,281 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 62.2, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 1,671 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 109.1 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 81.3 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 84.9 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 9,513 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 527.3 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 430 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 2.4 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 918 community service nurses. This is equal to 50.9 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 160 district nurses. This is equal to 8.9 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 15,518 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.1%
As of October 2024, 2,462 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 15.9% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Frimley

Population health

This ICS has a population of 774,255
In 2023/24, there were 2,810 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 33.7, which is better than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 54,721 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 24.5 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 5,969 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 67.8, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 786 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 124.9 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 80.9 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 84.3 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 4,190 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 541.2 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 163 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 2.1 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 351 community service nurses. This is equal to 45.3 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 90 district nurses. This is equal to 11.6 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 5,429 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 4.1%
As of October 2024, 841 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 15.5% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,842,532
In 2023/24, there were 6,415 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 34.0, which is better than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 137,787 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 26.1 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 16,776 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 62.2, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 2,199 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 132.2 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 80.8 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 84.1 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 12,189 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 661.5 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 586 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.2 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 1,030 community service nurses. This is equal to 55.9 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 4 district nurses. This is equal to 0.2 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 19,287 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.3%
As of October 2024, 5,139 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 26.6% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Kent and Medway

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,877,110
In 2023/24, there were 7,480 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 35.5, which is similar to the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 142,810 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 26.6 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 15,011 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 59.3, which is worse than the England national average
In 2022, there were 2,581 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 154.5 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is similar to the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 79.4 years, which is similar to the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 83.2 years, which is similar to the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 9,464 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 504.2 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 552 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 2.9 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 894 community service nurses. This is equal to 47.6 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 26 district nurses. This is equal to 1.4 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 15,227 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.1%
As of October 2024, 2,627 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 17.3% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Surrey Heartlands

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,060,683
In 2023/24, there were 2,435 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 27.0, which is better than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 54,759 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 17.3 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 9,941 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 66.9, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 991 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 107.8 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 81.6 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 85.2 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 4,528 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 426.9 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 215 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 2.0 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 174 community service nurses. This is equal to 16.4 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 4 district nurses. This is equal to 0.4 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 5,903 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 4.1%
As of October 2024, 812 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 13.8% of all workforce sickness absence days

NHS Sussex

Population health

This ICS has a population of 1,722,184
In 2023/24, there were 4,930 children in Year 6 (aged 10-11) who were classed as obese. This equates to a rate of 30.7, which is better than the England national average
Between 2018/19 to 2023/24, 118,591 people aged 40 to 74 received an NHS health check. This equates to a proportion of 23.3 of those eligible, which is worse than the England national average
As of 2024, there were 17,525 dementia diagnoses for those aged under 65. This equates to an estimated rate of 63.1, which is similar to the England national average
In 2022, there were 2,188 deaths among those aged under 75 classed as preventable. This equates to a rate of 135.1 deaths per 100,000 of the ICS population, which is better than the England national average

Life expectancy

The male life expectancy at birth is 80.3 years, which is better than the England national average
The female life expectancy at birth is 83.9 years, which is better than the England national average

Workforce planning

There are 9,029 NHS nurses and health visitors in this ICS
As of December 2024, there were 524.2 NHS nurses and health visitors per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of December 2024, there were 560 nurses working in general practice. This is equal to 3.3 nurses per 10,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 1,216 community service nurses. This is equal to 70.6 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of November 2024, there were 35 district nurses. This is equal to 2.0 nurses per 100,000 of the ICS population
As of October 2024, 15,966 full-time equivalent days had been lost to work sickness among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to a workforce sickness rate of 5.7%
As of October 2024, 3,368 full-time equivalent days were specifically lost to mental health issues (such as stress and anxiety) among nurses and health visitors. This was equivalent to 21.1% of all workforce sickness absence days