There is a 13-year life expectancy gap between Hertfordshire's richer and poorer areas, according to a report, while deprivation and childhood obesity remain a "persistent challenge".

Stark figures laid out the public health profile of Hertfordshire in an update from Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT) presented to the county council's health scrutiny committee.

The report revealed that almost a third (31%) of Year 6 children in the county are classified as obese, with the problem higher in areas with greater deprivation.

The document stated that while "deprivation drives much of this inequality", some demographics were particularly worse-hit, including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, children in care, people with severe mental illness, and LGBTQ+ people.

It also noted clinicians were "encountering increasing levels of vaccine hesitancy", increasing pressure on immunisation services to come up with ways to encourage uptake.

The report stated: "Hertfordshire's population is growing rapidly – reaching by 2025 the growth we had anticipated for 2040. The nature of that population is changing too. By 2040, we will have 50% more people aged over 65 and 80% more people aged over 85.

"More people are living with long-term conditions, often multiple conditions at once. Currently, 62% of people living with frailty also manage at least two long-term conditions.

"The number of children with Special Educational Needs (SEND) has risen sharply – from 28,000 in 2015 to 38,000 in 2023, with 46,000 expected by 2030.

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"Childhood obesity remains a persistent challenge, affecting 8.5% of 2-year-olds in Hertfordshire, rising to 18% in Reception and 31% by Year 6. These rates are consistently higher in areas of greater deprivation."

HCT's five-point organisational strategy includes:

• Offering high quality, equitable and sustainable care
• Driving proactive and preventative care
• Working in partnership to meet population needs
• Making HCT a great place to work
• Improving, innovating and embracing technology

The report adds: "Whilst life expectancy is growing, healthy life expectancy is decreasing, which will continue to place increasing demands on healthcare services