The Health and Wellbeing Board of Doncaster Council met on Thursday 4 June 2026 to discuss a range of important health and wellbeing matters affecting the borough. Key topics scheduled for consideration included the council's annual report, the Better Care Fund, and strategies for improving the health of minority communities and those living with dementia.

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 achievements and progress against the Health and Wellbeing Strategy's priorities. The report was expected to detail how resident feedback and community voices have informed the Board's discussions and decisions, with a particular focus on the strategy's principles of health equity in all policies, evidence-informed decision-making, and a compassionate, trauma-informed approach. The report was also to outline the Board's vision for the future, aiming for A compassionate city where collectively everyone is supported to add life to years and years to life. ¹

Better Care Fund 2026-27

A report on the Better Care Fund (BCF) for 2026-27 was scheduled for discussion. The BCF plan aims to ensure more integrated care for residents, reducing the need for them to repeat their stories to different services and helping them to stay independent through prevention and early help. The plan focuses on neighbourhood teams providing health, care, and community support closer to home, and aims for smoother hospital discharge processes. The report was expected to detail how the BCF funding would be used to achieve goals related to reducing non-elective admissions for those aged 65 and over, and improving outcomes from reablement, while also preventing avoidable long-term care home admissions. The plan prioritises strengthening integrated delivery through co-production, person-centred care, and evidence-informed decision-making.

Team Doncaster Dementia Strategy

The Board was set to consider the Team Doncaster Dementia Strategy 2026-2031. With an anticipated increase in the number of people living with dementia in Doncaster by 2035, the strategy aims to address prevention, early intervention, and support for those affected. The strategy acknowledges that approximately 40% of dementia cases worldwide are linked to 14 recognised risk factors, including lower education levels, hearing impairment, hypertension, obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, social isolation, traumatic brain injury, and air pollution. The strategy has been co-produced with individuals living with dementia and their carers, identifying seven priority areas: Leading Well, Preventing Well, Diagnosing Well, Supporting Well, Living Well, Caring Well, and Dying Well. The Board was asked to endorse the strategy and influence greater system involvement for its effective delivery.

Evidence Informed - HDRC Impact Report

A report on the Health Determinants Research Collaborative (HDRC) Doncaster's impact was scheduled for review. The HDRC aims to boost research capacity within local government, focusing on preventative public health and social care research, particularly concerning the wider determinants of health. The report was to present case studies demonstrating how evidence can support Health and Wellbeing Board priorities, grounded in resident voice. These included the Women's Health Initiative, which synthesises evidence to influence commissioning; work on Gambling Harms, applying evidence to licensing decisions; and the Ageing Friendly Survey, which transforms resident feedback into usable data for council-wide decision-making. The Board was asked to consider how these evidence-informed approaches could be systematically embedded into its work.

DBTH Health Inequalities Strategy

The Board was to receive an update on Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's (DBTH) work to tackle health inequalities. This aligns with the Health and Wellbeing Board's strategy areas of focus, including closing the gap in women's and child health, and creating healthy places to live, grow, and play. DBTH's approach is structured around its Tackling Health Inequalities Enabling Plan, with priority areas such as prevention, elective care pathways, and urgent and emergency care. The report highlighted the development of a Trust Equity Index to identify statistically significant inequities in services and the creation of data dashboards to monitor DNA/WNB rates, elective waiting lists, and emergency department waiting times. The Board was asked to note DBTH's progress, reaffirm its commitment to tackling health inequalities, and support 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 discussion. This report provides an update on the progress, challenges, and lessons learned from the Doncaster multi-agency action plan for improving health and reducing inequalities among minority communities. The plan, approved by the Health and Wellbeing Board in March 2025, covers key themes including leadership, healthcare access, adult social care, translation services, data, community development, Citizens Advice, and RDASH contributions. The report highlighted progress in developing a data dashboard for ethnic minority communities, providing financial support to minority groups, and improving access to services. The Board was asked to note the progress and endorse the recommendations for improving the health of minority populations.

The meeting was scheduled to take place at Hatfield Woodhouse Village Hall, Darking Ing Lane, Hatfield Woodhouse, Doncaster, DN7 6GB.