The Hounslow Health and Wellbeing Board met to discuss the housing strategy, updates from Healthwatch Hounslow, drug and alcohol services, and the Better Care Fund, among other topics. The board was also scheduled to discuss the Health and Wellbeing strategy and note the appointment of new board members.

Here's a breakdown of the key items from the agenda:

Better Care Fund

The Hounslow Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to discuss the Better Care Fund (BCF) for 2025-26, reviewing a narrative plan template and figures for intermediate care capacity and demand.

The narrative plan was expected to cover:

• Priorities for 2025-26
• Key changes since the previous BCF plan
• The approach to the plan's development and joint system governance
• Alignment with plans to improve flow in urgent and emergency care services
• Priorities for developing intermediate care
• Collaboration across Health and Wellbeing Board areas and aligned Integrated Care Boards

The plan intends to show how it will support a shift from sickness to prevention, help people live independently, and shift care from hospitals to home. It also sets out goals for performance against national metrics, aligning with NHS operational and local authority social care plans.

The report pack included the Better Care Fund Quarter 2 Report template and the Section 75 Agreement 2023-24. The key purposes of the quarterly template are to confirm compliance against the requirements of the BCF, provide an update on spend and activity against the Additional Discharge Fund, and provide actual activity for demand and capacity reporting.

Housing Strategy 2025-2030

The Hounslow Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to hear a presentation on the Housing Strategy 2025-2030. The presentation was expected to cover the strategy's focus, statutory responsibilities, and timeline, as well as challenges related to population, age, disability, education, employment, housing stock, home tenure, affordability and housing conditions.

The presentation included draft ambitions for 2030, including aims to:

• Reduce homelessness and rough sleeping
• Secure additional high-quality, safe, green, and affordable housing
• Improve the quality and livability of existing homes and estates
• Support residents to live independently and promote their health and wellbeing
• Tackle crime and antisocial behaviour on estates
• Encourage social and economic inclusion
• Align closely to the draft Hounslow Local Plan 2020-2041

Drug and Alcohol Update

The Hounslow Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to receive an update on drug and alcohol services, with a presentation titled Health and Wellbeing Board - Progress Against the Drug Strategy. The presentation was expected to cover progress against the national drug strategy and future plans, including the three strategic priorities outlined in the strategy:

• Delivering a world-class treatment and recovery system
• Achieving a generational shift in the demand for recreational drugs
• Breaking drug supply chains

The presentation also included information on the Supplemental Substance Misuse Treatment and Recovery Grant (SSMTRG) and Drug Treatment Grant targets and performance to date.

Healthwatch Hounslow

Peter Goulding from Healthwatch Hounslow was scheduled to provide an update. In addition, Dan Rogers, the chief executive officer of Public Voice, was scheduled to give an introduction to the 'Public Voice' New Health Watch Provider. Public Voice has been delivering Healthwatch in Haringey since 2013, and Healthwatch Croydon since 2023.

The presentation was expected to cover Public Voice's mission, offer, and projects, as well as its vision for Healthwatch Hounslow. Potential focus themes for Healthwatch research include experiences of asylum seekers and recent migrants, autism services, Pharmacy First, and children and young people’s oral health.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy Update

Martin Waddington, Director Integrated Care Partnership and Commissioning, was scheduled to provide an update on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The report included in the meeting document pack considered three red RAG-rated areas: stop smoking referrals between maternity and Healthy Hounslow, supporting parents to be more effective parents, and Lampton Leisure Services promotion within health services.

Kelly O’Neill, Director Public Health LBH, shared that Martha Flann and Ann Phillips had begun work on the 2026 strategy, and that work was looking at current data, with consideration being given to what the priorities for the next Strategy would be.

Appointment of new members

The Hounslow Health and Wellbeing Board was asked to note the appointment of Dr Sanjay Krishnamoorthy, Medical Director at West Middlesex Hospital, and Sheena Basnayake, Managing Director – West Middlesex Hospital, to the Board.

Other items

The agenda also included:

• Welcome and Introductions
• Minutes of the meeting held on 29 January and Matters Arising
• Better Care Fund update
• Health and Wellbeing Report Q3
• Any Other Business
• Date of next meeting