Needs Assessments

Kingston Oral Health Needs Assessment 2026

The new Oral Health Needs Assessment (OHNA), covering children and young people aged 0-19 years, was published in October 2026. It provides an oral health profile of young people in the borough, identifies inequalities and risk factors, evaluates current services and provides evidence-based recommendations to improve outcomes in Kingston.

You can find the OHNA document, all the recent Kingston Needs Assessments and other information about the borough on our Data Website.

Some findings from the assessment:

  • 24% of five year old children in Kingston show evidence of tooth decay, and levels are rising
  • These levels are higher than the national average (22%) but lower than London overall (27%)
  • Incisor decay (associated with consumption of sugary drinks) is also increasing in Kingston
  • National data shows higher levels of decay are associated with living in more deprived areas, and with specific ethnic groups (Asian children, and those of ‘Other’ ethnicities)
  • 54% of Kingston’s child population saw a dentist in 2024-25, above the London average (50%)
  • Dental extractions due to caries (tooth decay or cavities) are the most common cause of hospitalisation in primary school age children
  • Around 140 Kingston children are admitted to hospital each year for dental extractions

If you have any feedback on the OHNA, or would like to request the document in an alternative format, please contact the Public Health team via
phps@kingston.gov.uk
For more information on local services for children and young people, please go to Connected Kingston.

Kingston Poverty Needs Assessment 2025

Completed in November 2025, the Kingston Borough Poverty Needs Assessment 2025 examines the financial pressures affecting residents across the borough and identifies the groups most at risk. Drawing on a wide range of data sources, the report provides a strong evidence base to support effective action, informed decision-making, and partnership working to reduce poverty in Kingston.

The report can be downloaded here – Link to Kingston Borough Poverty Needs Assessment 2025 on Kingston Council Website

Key findings from the assessment:

  • An estimated 26% of Kingston borough residents live in relative poverty after housing costs, a figure in line with the London average
  • Over one in five children (22%) are living in relative poverty. Although this rate is the second lowest in London, it represents a significant increase of 17.2% since 2019
  • An estimated 18.8% of jobs held by Kingston residents pay below the London Living Wage, contributing to the rise of in-work poverty
  • 6% of households are estimated to be on a negative budget, with essential expenditure exceeding their income
  • Families on low income now spend an estimated £112 per week more for the same standard of living compared to pre-pandemic
  • The shortage of affordable housing is critical, with the current supply meeting just 6% of the identified need in Kingston
  • There has been a 36.9% increase in working-age residents claiming benefits since May 2019, and a rapid 105% increase in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants between April 2019 and April 2025.

The Council continues to work together with its statutory partners and the voluntary and community sector to address poverty and its impacts on residents across the borough. For professionals or community groups who wish to make contact with our networks please email strategy@kingston.gov.uk.

For more information on services that are available for Kingston borough residents who are experiencing financial difficulties, please visit Connected Kingston

To request the Poverty Needs Assessment 2025 in a different format contact strategy@kingston.gov.uk

Kingston’s current JSNA

The latest Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) for the borough was published in October 2023, providing a comprehensive look at the ‘Top 5’ causes of ill health, risk factors, reasons for hospitalisation and wider determinants of health for Kingston’s population.

Here you can find a summary and the main document.
The recommendations for all sections can be found at the end of the main document or separately here.

There are also detailed chapters available on the following themes:

More content will follow; we are currently working to produce more accessible versions of our JSNA documents and will upload them at the earliest opportunity. Please contact us if you would like to request the information in an alternative format

Recent Needs Assessments

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    What is a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)?

    The JSNA:

        • Is a comprehensive picture of information and data of the health, care, and wellbeing needs and inequalities of Kingston (now and in the future) in order to improve and protect health and wellbeing outcomes
        • Provides information on local community views and evidence of effectiveness of existing interventions which will help to shape future plans for services
        • Reflects the wider social factors that have an impact on people’s health and wellbeing. These factors which have been found to have the most significant influence are widely known as the determinants of health. While health services make a contribution to health, most of the key determinants of health, for example, education, employment, housing, and environment, lie outside the direct influence of healthcare

    Why Have a JSNA?

    Local Authorities and NHS Integrated Commissioning Boards (ICBs) have equal and joint statutory duties to prepare a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment through the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB). The JSNA informs Kingston’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy which is also owned by the Health and Wellbeing Board.

    The JSNA is used to inform and guide commissioning intentions across health, wellbeing, and social care services so that they will achieve better health and wellbeing outcomes.

    It aims to communicate key messages to a wide audience including staff from Local Authority and the NHS, elected members, including senior decision makers and service commissioners, local service providers, Voluntary and Community sector providers, residents and the general public.

    Kingston’s Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy

    Kingston’s Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-28 provides Kingston residents and organisations with a picture of what the Health and Wellbeing Board, through its members and wider partners, is aiming to deliver over the next three years and how working together is crucial to achieve this. The Kingston Health and Wellbeing Board agreed to focus on the following four priority areas / life stages where we believe that by working together we will make the most difference:

        1. Start well – children and young people
        2. Live well – good health in adulthood
        3. Age well – older people
        4. Golden threads – focusing on inclusion, reducing inequalities, the impact of climate on health, and increasing connectivity with our community and voluntary sector partners

     

    These priority areas build on those identified in the previous strategies.

    Director of Public Health Reports

    Director of Public Health Reports