HEALTH chiefs are seeking feedback on a new strategy to improve health and wellbeing in Oxfordshire.

As demand on health services grows and budgets become stretched, the draft strategy sets out the priorities which local NHS services, local councils and Healthwatch Oxfordshire will focus on until 2023.

Bringing mental health spending inline with physical health spending, supporting carers and reducing rough sleeping all feature in the plan, developed by Oxfordshire's Health and Wellbeing Board.

The aims is to improve everyone’s health and wellbeing, but especially those people who have health problems or are in difficult circumstances due to age or vulnerability.

The strategy outlines the actions the board is proposing to take, but it now wants further input from the wider public.

Feedback from previous public engagement, especially around the health and wellbeing of children and young people and older people was used in developing the document.

Vice chair of the Oxfordshire Health and Wellbeing Board and chair of Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) Dr Kiren Collison, said: "Health in the county is generally good compared with the national picture.

"Residents live longer here than elsewhere and remain healthy into older age for longer than the national average.

"We have some of the leading health service and academic organisations in the country on our doorstep, and many highly rated services.

"However, we face many challenges.

"The number of people with chronic diseases is growing.

"Demand for all our services is increasing and funding is tight.

"House prices locally are high which affects workforce shortages.

"We know we have to find our way through these challenges.

"Our major asset is our willingness to work together as organisations and with local people to find new solutions to these ongoing issues.

"That’s what this strategy is all about and that's why we want to know whether the people of Oxfordshire feel it is right for the future.

"I would urge as many people as possible to read the documents and take part in the survey.

"It's an important conversation so we know what matters most to our residents and how we can best work together to deliver those services."

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board and leader of Oxfordshire County Council, added: “We will listen carefully to the views expressed in this survey and our strategy will be reviewed in light of the feedback we have received.”

The Draft Oxfordshire Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2018 - 2023) can be found at consult.oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk

The deadline for having your say is 9am, February 20.