The Health and Wellbeing Board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, to discuss a range of reports concerning the health and wellbeing of Hillingdon residents. Key topics include an update on integrated health and wellbeing performance, a review of the occupational therapy service, and a verbal update from Healthwatch Hillingdon.

Integrated Health and Wellbeing Performance Report and Service Update

A significant item on the agenda is the Integrated Health and Wellbeing Performance Report and Service Update 260318 - 05 - Integrated Health Wellbeing Performance Report Service Update.pdf. This report is expected to provide an overview of progress against the Board's five strategic priorities: Best Start in Life, Live Well, Age Well, Healthy Places, and Equity & Inclusion. It will summarise delivery achievements, performance trends, and identify areas requiring Board sponsorship. The report indicates that the health system is stabilising with measurable improvements, particularly in discharge performance, frailty management, and mental health crisis flow. However, it also notes that Emergency Department attendances and bed days remain above operational targets. The update will detail improvements in winter resilience, flow and discharge, mental health crisis response, and community alternatives to hospital. It will also highlight areas where performance remains off-track, such as emergency demand and bed days. Key risks requiring Board oversight include workforce fragility and the scaling of new models. The priorities for the next three months will focus on consolidation and acceleration, including sustaining No Criteria to Reside (NC2R) at or below 34 per day, translating frailty into bed-day reduction, fully mobilising the Reactive Care Coordination Hub, and strengthening community alternatives to the Emergency Department.

The report details progress within the Neighbourhoods programme, which focuses on the Live Well and Age Well priorities. Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) are now fully operational across all three localities, bringing together GPs, community services, social care, mental health, and the voluntary sector. Frailty case management is progressing well, with early evidence of reduced emergency admissions. The report also covers the Healthy Heart campaign, aimed at improving hypertension control, and the Community Pathway Programme, which seeks to deliver care closer to home. The development of three Neighbourhood Hubs is also progressing. Risks to the neighbourhood programme include workforce gaps, variation in INT maturity, growing demand from ageing populations, and local inequalities.

The Reactive Care Programme aims to strengthen urgent and crisis response in the community. The Reactive Care Coordination Hub went live in December 2025, providing a single point of access for urgent community referrals. The report highlights progress in community IV antibiotics, a mobile X-ray pilot, and the Lighthouse mental health crisis service, which has seen a significant reduction in length of stay. The NC2R Reduction Plan has contributed to a reduction in delayed discharges. The forward plan for Reactive Care includes the full mobilisation of the Coordination Hub, the launch of an Integrated Rehabilitation & Reablement Service, and efforts to sustain NC2R at or below 34 per day.

The Best Start to Life programme focuses on ensuring children have the foundations for a healthy start. Progress includes the design of Child Health Hubs, integrated paediatric clinics, and the development of a Children & Young People (CYP) neighbourhood dashboard. Hillingdon has been selected for the expansion of Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) in schools. The report notes a significant increase in demand for neurodevelopmental assessments, with additional investment aimed at reducing the waiting list. Key outcome measures for this programme will be consolidated into the CYP dashboard. The forward plan includes launching the CYP dashboard, establishing a prototype Child Health Hub, and enhancing community paediatric and support services.

The report also addresses cross-cutting system risks, including high ED attendances, potential relapses in NC2R figures, and workforce constraints. Mitigation strategies include strengthening alternatives to the ED, embedding discharge improvement measures, and implementing a multifaceted approach to recruitment and retention. The growing prevalence of long-term conditions and the surge in demand for CYP neurodevelopmental assessments are also identified as risks, with strategies in place to address them through prevention, early intervention, and pathway redesign.

Occupational Therapy Service Update

The Board is also scheduled to receive an update on the Occupational Therapy (OT) service 260318 - 08 - Occupational Therapy Service Update.pdf. This report will brief the Board on challenges in delivering statutory OT contacts for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), as outlined in their Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs). It will detail the number of children who did not receive their full allocation of OT contacts during the academic year 2024/25 and outline a recovery plan. The report notes a national shortage of OTs, which has impacted service delivery. A recovery plan is in place, which includes commissioning additional capacity from the independent therapy market and assessing the therapy needs of affected children.

Healthwatch Hillingdon - Verbal Update

A verbal update from Healthwatch Hillingdon is also scheduled. Healthwatch Hillingdon is an independent organisation that gathers feedback from local people about their experiences of health and social care services.

Board Planner & Future Agenda Items

Finally, the Board will consider its business for the forthcoming cycle of meetings through the Board Planner & Future Agenda Items report 260318 - 10 - Board Planner Future Agenda Items.pdf. This will involve reviewing and providing input on the proposed schedule of reports and topics for future meetings.