The Health and Wellbeing Board is scheduled to discuss a range of important topics, including strategies for making County Durham smoke-free, updates on health and social care integration, and plans for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board. The Board will also review progress on the Better Care Fund and consider updates to the Adult Social Care Strategy.

Making Smoking History in County Durham

A significant portion of the meeting is dedicated to the Making Smoking History agenda. The report outlines completed work in 2025/26 and upcoming plans for 2026/27, aiming to reduce smoking prevalence, tackle health inequalities, and improve overall health and wellbeing in County Durham. The Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy[^1] sets out ambitious targets, including a reduction in smoking prevalence to 5% by 2030. The report notes a positive trend, with smoking prevalence falling to 8.8% in 2024, the first time it has been recorded under 10% in the county. The meeting will also discuss the role of the FRESH programme[^2] in denormalising tobacco and the work of the Tobacco Control Alliance[^3] and its Vaping subgroup. A presentation will cover the latest smoking prevalence data, key targets, a local case study, and an overview of youth vaping trends. Discussion points include how to ensure system-wide collaboration to support smokers in making quit attempts, aligning systems to target high-prevalence areas, and how partners can work together to achieve these ambitions.

Health and Social Care Update

Dr Jen Steel, Director of Integration for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, is scheduled to provide an update on health and social care integration. The report indicates that recent development sessions have involved partners from health, the voluntary and community sector (VCS), and local authorities, alongside individuals with lived experience. The focus is on understanding how neighbourhood health approaches across the life course can better reach struggling communities. The report highlights a reimagining of community support, aiming to prevent ill health and promote healthy choices, acknowledging that this is a long-term endeavour.

Neighbourhood Health Plans

The Board will receive a presentation on Neighbourhood Health Plans from Dr Jen Steel and Sarah Burns, Director of Local Delivery/Head of Integrated Strategic Commissioning for the NENC Integrated Care Board[^4] and Durham County Council. The report emphasizes that Neighbourhood Health is about the how of working with people and partners, using data to guide efforts and fostering trust, transparency, tenacity, and risk-taking. Key messages include the importance of building Neighbourhood Health into partnership approaches, demonstrating commitment, and addressing barriers such as funding, workforce, and competing policies. The potential for significant reductions in hospital demand through this approach is also highlighted, with projections of reduced outpatient appointments and unplanned admissions.

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board Commissioning Plan

Sarah Burns will also present the five-year commissioning plan for the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB). This plan is designed to support the Ten-Year Health Plan[^5], which calls for significant changes in how services are organised, delivered, and funded. The report outlines a shift towards a rolling five-year planning horizon, encouraging continuous, iterative planning to support transformational change. The plan details expected performance against key NHS constitutional standards and national metrics across primary and community care, mental health, learning disabilities, and autism over the next three years. It also addresses financial discipline and productivity expectations for ICBs and NHS Foundation Trusts. The commissioning plan is underpinned by detailed programmes of work and will be further supported by local Neighbourhood Health Plans.

Better Care Fund 2025-26 Quarter Three Report

A report from Michael Laing, Corporate Director of Adult and Health Services, will provide an update on the Better Care Fund (BCF) for 2025-26. The BCF is a key policy supporting the integration of health, housing, and social care. The report details performance against key metrics, including emergency admissions for those aged 65+, average days from discharge ready date to discharge, and admissions to long-term residential and nursing care for people aged 65+. The report indicates that while discharge delays are on track, emergency admissions are higher than planned, partly due to an increase in flu cases. Admissions to residential and nursing care homes are performing better than target. The report also confirms continued compliance with the BCF's national requirements and grant conditions.

Adult Social Care Strategy Update

Michael Laing will also present an update on the development of the Adult Social Care Strategy 2025-2028. This strategy, approved by Cabinet in January 2026, focuses on three priority themes: prevention, involvement, and equity in experience and outcomes. The strategy aims to ensure that adult social care services are cohesive, ambitious, and focused, addressing the needs of service users and promoting preventative activity. The report highlights the importance of strengthening relationships with local communities and service users to give them a stronger voice in decision-making. The Service Improvement Plan (SIP) will serve as the delivery plan for the strategy, with ongoing monitoring and updates to the Health and Wellbeing Board. The strategy is informed by feedback from stakeholders, the Joint Strategic Needs and Assets Assessment (JSNAA)[^6], and the Adult Health and Wellbeing Survey[^7].