The Health and Wellbeing Board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, 17 March 2026, to discuss updates on public health support for the NHS, neighbourhood health initiatives, and the Better Care Fund. The meeting will also cover future meeting dates for the board.

Public Health Support to NHS, Strategic Commissioning and Neighbourhood Health

This report outlines how Worcestershire Public Health is supporting new developments within the NHS, particularly focusing on the Integrated Care Boards' (ICBs) role in strategic commissioning and the implementation of Neighbourhood Health. Strategic commissioning is described as a continuous, evidence-based process for understanding population needs, developing long-term strategies, allocating resources, and evaluating impact to improve population health and equity. Neighbourhood Health is presented as a key delivery model that places communities at the centre of prevention, care, and recovery, recognising that factors outside of acute healthcare services significantly shape health outcomes. The report details three domains of public health support: insight and intelligence, health improvement services, and community engagement and development. It highlights how Public Health teams are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between the NHS, local government, and community partners, with a strong emphasis on identifying and addressing health inequalities. The report recommends that the Health and Wellbeing Board note its contents and agree to develop a Memorandum of Understanding between Public Health and the Integrated Care Board to guide future support.

Neighbourhood Health in Worcestershire

This report provides an update on the progress of Neighbourhood Health initiatives in Worcestershire, building on the national requirement for local government, the NHS, and partners to develop neighbourhood health plans under the leadership of the Health and Wellbeing Board. Since the previous update in November 2025, discussions have been held with various stakeholders to shape the approach, and work has commenced on an Interim Strategic Neighbourhood Health Plan. The report details the definition of neighbourhoods, aligning with national expectations of around 30,000–50,000 people, and the development of local priorities and actions based on local needs and Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs). It also highlights the focus on prevention and the ongoing engagement and co-design workshops planned for 2026 to develop the Worcestershire Neighbourhood Health Operating Model. The report notes that the reformed Better Care Fund (BCF) will be aligned with the Neighbourhood Health model.

Better Care Fund Update

This report provides an update on the Better Care Fund (BCF) for Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 of 2025/26, including budget monitoring and planning requirements for 2026/27. The BCF is a national initiative aimed at driving health and social care integration, requiring joint plans owned by the Health and Wellbeing Board. The report details the submission of Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 reporting templates to NHS England, confirming that Worcestershire continues to meet the four national BCF conditions. While progress is generally on track, admissions to long-term residential and nursing care for older people are noted as not currently meeting targets, attributed to rising demand and pressures across various care pathways. The report also covers the additional £50 million in funding for the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) for 2025-26 and outlines the financial position of the BCF, projecting a breakeven position for the year, with measures in place to manage anticipated overspends. Looking ahead to 2026/27, the BCF is undergoing reform, aligning with the 10-Year Health Plan's focus on neighbourhood-level delivery, with mandatory submissions to NHS England due by 19 May 2026. The report recommends that the Health and Wellbeing Board sign off the Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 reporting templates, note the budget monitoring position, and acknowledge the publication of the national BCF 2026/27 Planning Framework.

Future Meeting Dates

The report lists the scheduled dates for future public and private development meetings of the Health and Wellbeing Board for 2026 and 2027. Public meetings are scheduled for 19 May 2026, 22 September 2026, 17 November 2026, 23 February 2027, and 25 May 2027, all at 2:00 pm. Private development meetings are scheduled for 7 July 2026, 13 October 2026, 26 January 2027, and 23 March 2027, also at 2:00 pm.