The Hounslow Health and Wellbeing Board met to discuss a range of critical public health and wellbeing issues, including updates on the Heathrow expansion and the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. The meeting also covered progress reports on various health and wellbeing initiatives, such as the Better Care Fund and Healthwatch Hounslow's patient experience findings.

Heathrow Expansion Update

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on the proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport. The council's policy position on this matter is Heathrow – Better, Not Bigger, advocating for improvements to the airport that benefit the local community while mitigating negative impacts. The report pack outlined Heathrow Airport Limited's proposal for a third runway, a new terminal complex, and upgraded facilities, which was endorsed by the government in November 2025. This expansion is being considered under a Development Consent Order (DCO) process, which differs from ordinary planning permission by encompassing a broader range of consents for major infrastructure projects. The proposed timeline indicated a formal consultation in Q3 2026, with a submission to the Planning Inspectorate in Q4 2027 and a potential decision by Q1 2029. The report highlighted significant concerns regarding aircraft noise, with an expected increase in affected residents due to a rise in Air Traffic Movements (ATMs). Mitigation proposals included noise insulation schemes for residential properties and schools, as well as contributions to parks and gardens. The Health Impact Analysis within the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement identified potential adverse health impacts from noise, increased demand on social infrastructure, air quality issues, and strain on community cohesion due to population changes. Conversely, potential benefits included job creation and enhanced skills and education pathways. The council was reviewing the accompanying documents and planned to respond to the consultation by 1 September 2026.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy Progress Report

A combined report detailed the progress of projects aligned with the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-2026 for Quarters 3 and 4 of 2025/26. Under the Start Well theme, updates included progress on maternal health, infant feeding, and the Healthy Start scheme, with some projects marked as Amber due to delays. The Live Well theme covered initiatives such as the Healthy Hounslow website, Hounslow Connect platform, and the Health Outreach Team, with most projects on track. The Age Well theme provided updates on the Carers Service, Falls Prevention, and end-of-life care, with some projects facing challenges or seeking further funding. The Healthy Places theme reported on Rough Sleeping Housing First, Eco Schools, and crime reduction initiatives, with most projects progressing as planned.

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Update

A verbal update was provided on the ongoing development and maintenance of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). The JSNA is a statutory requirement under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, and Hounslow has transitioned to a dynamic, continually updated model delivered through the Hounslow Data Hub. Recent updates included a revised interactive map of community assets, new analysis on working patterns and transport use, and an interactive version of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment. The report also noted updated Indices of Deprivation, showing increased deprivation across most domains in Hounslow compared to 2019, and highlighted the ongoing use of the State of the Borough Report to inform strategic decision-making.

Healthwatch Hounslow Update

Peter Goulding, Chair of Healthwatch Hounslow, presented the Quarter 4 Patient Experience Report. The report covered feedback from GP practices, hospitals, dentists, and community services, with a consistent theme of praise for staff kindness, expertise, and communication. Key issues identified included long waiting times for standard GP appointments, hospital waiting times, and communication breakdowns between different health system parts. Healthwatch made recommendations to improve transparency around waiting times, enhance information for patients, and strengthen communication between services. A briefing note was also provided regarding potential future arrangements for patient engagement following proposed changes to the Healthwatch network, with concerns raised about maintaining the independence of patient voice and ensuring integrated feedback across health and social care.

Better Care Fund Update

The Board was asked to approve the 2025/26 Better Care Fund (BCF) Quarter 4 return for submission to NHS England. The report confirmed that national conditions were being met and provided an update on metric performance and expenditure against plans. The BCF is a key vehicle for driving health and social care integration, with pooled budgets supporting initiatives focused on prevention, intermediate care, and supporting older and vulnerable residents. The report detailed the financial contributions from both the NHS and local authority, and outlined the expenditure across various schemes, including discharge support, home-based care, and assistive technologies.

NHS West and North London (WNL) ICB Update

A verbal update was scheduled following the recent formation and restructuring of the NHS West and North London Integrated Care Board (ICB). This merger is part of broader NHS reforms aimed at reducing running costs, streamlining commissioning functions, and increasing resources for frontline services, in line with the NHS 10-Year Health Plan and neighbourhood health models.

The following items were also scheduled for discussion:

• Health and Wellbeing Progress Report for Quarter 4: This report provided an overview of the progress made on projects aligned with the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-2026.
• Minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2026 and Matters Arising: The Board was to review and confirm the accuracy of the minutes from the previous meeting.
• Any Other Business: This item allowed for the discussion of any urgent matters not otherwise listed on the agenda.
• Date of next meeting: The date for the subsequent meeting was to be confirmed.