The Health & Wellbeing Board of Hammersmith and Fulham Council met on Wednesday 18 March 2026 to discuss a range of important public health matters. Key topics included the progress of the Better Care Fund, the implementation of the Best Start in Life Plan, and strategies to improve immunisation and oral health across the borough.

Better Care Fund Quarter 3 Report 2025-2026

The Board was scheduled to review the Better Care Fund (BCF) Quarter 3 report for 2025-2026. This fund aims to support community health and social care resources to reduce hospital admissions and facilitate timely discharges. The report detailed planned and actual expenditure, as well as performance against key metrics. While discharge delays and residential admissions were on track, emergency admissions for individuals aged 65 and over were not meeting targets, attributed to winter conditions and flu outbreaks. The report also confirmed that the four national conditions for the Better Care Fund continued to be met.

Best Start in Life Local Plan 2026-2029

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Hammersmith & Fulham Best Start in Life Local Plan 2026-2029. This co-produced plan outlines the borough's vision, priorities, and commitments for supporting babies, young children, and their families. It brings together local authority services, early education providers, health partners, and the voluntary and community sector. The plan focuses on four key priorities: seamless service integration, healthier children, high-quality early education and childcare, and ensuring every Reception child gets the right start. Progress would be measured against specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including increasing the percentage of children achieving a Good Level of Development and improving immunisation uptake.

Memorandum of Understanding with West London NHS Trust

The Board was presented with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between West London NHS Trust (WLT) and Hammersmith & Fulham Council (LBHF). This MoU aims to formalise joint working arrangements for integrated mental health services, covering areas such as hospital discharge, community pathways, forensic services, and Section 117 aftercare. The agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of both WLT and LBHF, with WLT leading on clinical assessments and inpatient care, and LBHF focusing on Care Act assessments and social care planning. The proposed MoU seeks to improve outcomes for residents with mental illness through faster access to support, shorter and safer hospital stays, and more joined-up assessments.

H&F Immunisation and Vaccination Improvement Plan

A comprehensive plan to improve vaccination uptake across all age groups in Hammersmith and Fulham was scheduled for discussion. The report highlighted that vaccination coverage in the borough remained below both London and England averages, posing a health protection risk. The plan outlines objectives to strengthen system leadership, increase vaccine uptake, reduce inequalities, build confidence, ensure seasonal readiness, and improve data quality. Key actions include targeted outreach for low-uptake communities, school-based vaccination promotion, and training for frontline staff to address vaccine hesitancy. The report also detailed the current performance of various vaccination programmes, noting significant gaps in coverage for key childhood immunisations, particularly the second dose of the MMR vaccine.

Oral Health Update in Hammersmith and Fulham

The Board was provided with an update on ongoing work to improve oral health, with a particular focus on children and young people. This included progress on the borough's Oral Health Plan, which aims to strengthen collaboration between services and promote healthy oral hygiene behaviours. Key initiatives discussed were the implementation of the national Supervised Toothbrushing Programme in early years settings in areas of high deprivation, and the Targeted Dental Access for Children (TDAC) Pilot. The TDAC Pilot aims to improve access to dental care for children facing barriers or with additional needs, with two dental practices in Shepherds Bush participating. The report noted that while overall hospital tooth extraction rates for young people were lower than the London average, a higher percentage of children in Hammersmith and Fulham experienced visible dental decay compared to the London average.