The Health and Wellbeing Board of Doncaster Council met on Thursday 4 June 2026 to discuss a range of important public health matters. The agenda included an annual report on the Board's activities, updates on the Better Care Fund, and strategies for improving the health of minority communities in Doncaster. Discussions were also scheduled on a neighbourhood health model, a dementia strategy, and an impact report from the Health Determinants Research Collaboration.

Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Report 2025-2026

The Board was scheduled to consider the Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Report for 2025-2026. This report was intended to provide an overview of the Board's work over the past year, highlighting how it has supported the delivery of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Doncaster 2024-2030. The report was expected to detail activities and case studies that demonstrate alignment with the strategy's principles, such as health equity in all policies, evidence-informed decision-making, and a compassionate, trauma-informed approach. The report was also intended to show how resident voice has informed the Board's work, with a focus on meetings held in community venues and engagement mechanisms like community consultations and the Citizens' Jury on Harmful Products. The Board was asked to endorse this annual report.

Better Care Fund 2026-27

A report on the Better Care Fund (BCF) for 2026-27 was scheduled for discussion. The plan aimed to ensure more integrated care, with increased support for independence through prevention, early help, and reablement. Neighbourhood teams were expected to provide health, care, and community support closer to home, facilitating smoother hospital discharges and reducing avoidable hospital admissions. The plan for 2026-27 was to focus on improving outcomes that matter to residents, ensuring transparency in funding use, and utilising evidence and data for decision-making. The report outlined a preferred option of strengthened integrated delivery, involving co-production with service users, person-centred care, enhanced early intervention, and evidence-informed decision-making. Alternative options were considered and discounted. The Board was asked to note the report and endorse the plan for 2026-27.

Neighbourhood Health Model and the Role of the Health and Wellbeing Board

An update was scheduled on the Neighbourhood Health Model and the role of the Health and Wellbeing Board in its implementation. Following the publication of national guidance, the Board was to receive information on current submissions to the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and ongoing engagement activities related to Neighbourhood Health. This model is intended to be a key mechanism for delivering integrated, place-based priorities and supporting the strategic aims of the Health and Wellbeing Board. The Board was asked to note the update, approve identified actions and next steps, and continue to provide oversight of neighbourhood health, including the development of neighbourhood health centres.

Team Doncaster Dementia Strategy

The Board was scheduled to consider the Team Doncaster Dementia Strategy 2026-2031. The report highlighted that dementia is a growing concern, with an estimated increase in the number of people living with dementia in Doncaster by 2035. The strategy aims to focus on prevention, early intervention, and enabling people to live well with dementia. It also addresses the 14 recognised risk factors for dementia and acknowledges that certain groups, including women, global majority groups, people living in deprivation, and people with learning disabilities, are disproportionately affected. The strategy has been co-produced with people living with dementia and their carers, incorporating insights from surveys and co-production sessions. Seven priority areas for change were identified, including leading and living well, preventing well, diagnosing well, and supporting well. The Board was asked to agree and influence greater system involvement and backing for the strategy's delivery, advocate for a dementia-friendly city, and align caring well objectives with the Carers Strategic Oversight Board.

Evidence Informed - HDRC Impact Report

An impact report from the Health Determinants Research Collaborative (HDRC) Doncaster was scheduled for discussion. The HDRC was established to boost research capacity and capability within local government, focusing on preventative public health and social care research, particularly concerning the wider determinants of health. The report was intended to showcase how the HDRC's approach offers a blueprint for creating an evidence-rich culture in local government. Three case studies were to be presented, demonstrating how evidence can support Health and Wellbeing Board priorities and incorporate resident voice. These included the Women's Health Initiative, work on Gambling Harms, and the Ageing Friendly Survey. The Board was asked to consider how the evidence-informed approaches outlined in the report could be systematically embedded within its work and the decision-making processes of its members.

DBTH Health Inequalities Strategy

The Board was to receive a report on Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's (DBTH) work to tackle health inequalities. This work directly contributes to all three areas of the Health and Wellbeing Board's strategy: improving the experience of ageing, closing the women's and children's health and wellbeing gap, and creating healthy places to live, grow and play. The report detailed DBTH's commitment to health equity, its governance structure for tackling health inequalities, and its data infrastructure, including a Trust Equity Index and health inequalities dashboards. The report highlighted evidence-based interventions such as a fair waiting list pilot and targeted DNA/WNB rate reductions. DBTH requested the Board's support in recognising and joining up health inequalities strategies across Doncaster, reaffirming the commitment to tackling health inequalities as a sustained system-wide priority, and supporting improved cross-organisation sharing of population health data.

Annual Report on Improving the Health of Minority Communities in Doncaster, 2026

An annual report on improving the health of minority communities in Doncaster was scheduled for presentation. This report provided an update on the progress, challenges, and support needed for the Doncaster multi-agency action plan for improving health and reducing health inequalities among minority communities. The plan, approved by the Health and Wellbeing Board in March 2025, covers themes including leadership, healthcare access, adult social care, translation services, data, community development, Citizens Advice, and RDASH contributions. The report highlighted progress in governance, initiatives to improve healthcare access, the development of an Ethnic Minority Communities data dashboard, financial support for minority communities, and RDASH's progress against its promises. Challenges included engaging with community groups, data accuracy, and limited availability of interpreters for less common languages. The Board was asked to note the progress and challenges and endorse the recommendations for improving the health of the minority population in Doncaster.