The Health and Wellbeing Board of Sutton Council met on Monday 8 June 2026 to discuss the evolving roles and responsibilities of the board in light of national NHS policy changes, the current state of health and care integration in Sutton, and updates on the Better Care Fund and neighbourhood working. Key decisions included noting the board's updated roles and responsibilities, noting the progress on health and care integration, agreeing the 2026/27 Better Care Fund plan and noting its submission, and noting the development of neighbourhood working in health and care.

Health and Wellbeing Board Roles and Responsibilities

The board reviewed its statutory role in providing strategic leadership to improve the health and wellbeing of Sutton residents and reduce health inequalities. This involves bringing together leaders from the council, NHS, and the charity, community, and faith sectors to agree priorities, align plans, and monitor progress. The board's responsibilities include overseeing the Strategic Needs Assessment and the Sutton Health and Care Plan, as well as considering joint commissioning matters, the Better Care Fund, and the Annual Public Health Report. The meeting highlighted the increasing importance of the board's role in overseeing the development of neighbourhood services, particularly in light of national NHS policy changes focusing on shifting care to communities, prevention, and digital services.

Health and Care Integration in Sutton

The board received an update on the current state of health and care integration in Sutton, emphasising the need for close coordination between the council's services (social care and public health) and NHS organisations. This integration is crucial due to residents' complex and long-term needs, the growing emphasis on prevention and early intervention, and national policy expectations for closer collaboration in local neighbourhoods. The council's Adult and Children's Social Care services and Public Health team are key partners in this integration, bringing statutory responsibilities, local insight, and democratic accountability. The report noted that while Sutton has a mature health partnership through the Sutton Alliance, the scale and pace of national reforms present significant challenges, particularly concerning workforce, financial constraints, and increasing service demand.

Update on the Better Care Fund

The board was updated on the Better Care Fund (BCF), a key mechanism for integrating health and social care services. The report covered the 2025/26 end-of-year return and the plan for 2026/27. The BCF aims to support people to stay well and independent at home, and to facilitate safe and timely hospital discharges. For 2025/26, while non-elective admissions showed continued pressure, Sutton maintained strong performance against regional averages, with reductions in avoidable admissions and falls. Discharge delays remained a focus, with efforts to reduce short delays and improve the Transfer of Care Hub. The 2026/27 plan, with a budget of £26.4 million, will continue to fund core integrated services, including hospital discharge, reablement, prevention, and neighbourhood health arrangements. The board agreed to Sutton's 2026/27 Better Care Fund plan and noted its submission, as well as noting the submission of the 2025/26 end-of-year return.

Neighbourhood Working in Health and Care

The board was briefed on neighbourhood working in health and care, a key component of the national Neighbourhood Health Framework. This framework aims to deliver services closer to where residents live, strengthening prevention and integrating care across health, local government, and the charity, community, and faith sectors. Sutton's response builds on existing strengths, including Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) and Primary Care Networks (PCNs), focusing on accelerating and coordinating current neighbourhood working. Priority areas for 2026/27 include reducing non-elective admissions for frail residents and improving GP access. The report highlighted challenges such as workforce shortages, financial pressures, and the need to overcome organisational boundaries, but also opportunities for more joined-up, person-centred care and a stronger focus on prevention. The board was asked to note the Sutton Alliance's response to the framework and endorse neighbourhood working as the organising principle for health and care delivery in Sutton.