The Health and Wellbeing Board of Durham County Council met on Wednesday 22 July 2026 to discuss a range of public health priorities. Key topics included strategies for reducing alcohol-related harm, an update on the Better Care Fund, and the annual report for 2025-26.

Reducing Alcohol Harms in County Durham

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on the system-wide work being undertaken to reduce the harms associated with alcohol in County Durham. The report highlighted that while alcohol abstinence is rising nationally, alcohol-specific and alcohol-related mortality rates in the North East region, including County Durham, remain higher than the England average. The report noted that levels of unmet need for those requiring support for alcohol consumption have reduced, and successful completion rates for those leaving the County Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service are higher than the national average. The recommendations included advocating for all partners to work to address alcohol harms and considering opportunities for the workforce to engage with Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training and mechanisms for engaging rural communities.

Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Report 2025-26

This report presented an overview of the Health and Wellbeing Board's activities and progress against the strategic priorities outlined in the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-28. The four key priorities discussed were: Making Smoking History, Enabling Healthy Weight for All, Improving Mental Health, Resilience and Wellbeing, and Reducing Alcohol Harms. The report detailed progress, challenges, and next steps for each priority area, aiming to improve healthy life expectancy and reduce inequalities within County Durham. It also touched upon work related to the County Durham Sexual Health Strategy 2023-28, the Oral Health Promotion Strategy 2023-28, and gambling-related harms.

Health and Economic Growth Joint Priorities

A presentation was scheduled to outline joint priorities for the Health and Wellbeing Board and the County Durham Economic Partnership. The discussion was expected to focus on the interdependencies between population health and economic outcomes, with a key message that poor health is a significant barrier to economic growth. Priorities identified included addressing mental health, prevention, supporting people to stay in or return to work, and tackling skills gaps and inequalities. The aim was to strengthen collaboration and align health and economic priorities.

Health Protection Annual Assurance

The Board was to receive an update on health protection assurance arrangements in County Durham and activities undertaken throughout the year. The report detailed key achievements in 2025, such as work to improve vaccination uptake and the development of behavioural insights to increase screening programme uptake. Areas for improvement in 2026 were also highlighted, including enhanced assurance in screening and infection prevention control, and pandemic preparedness. The report noted that while overall health protection functions demonstrate good performance, there are areas for improvement and increased assurance.

Commitment to Unpaid Carers – North East and North Cumbria

This report informed the Board about the development of a regional 'Commitment to Unpaid Carers' across the North East and North Cumbria. The commitment aims to improve the recognition, involvement, and support for unpaid carers within the health and social care system. It focuses on four priority areas: awareness and recognition, funding to reduce inequalities, embedding carer involvement in policy and strategy, and streamlined support across the system. Durham County Council was to present its three specific pledges aligned with these priorities.

Better Care Fund 2025-26 End of Year Report

This report provided a summary of the Better Care Fund 2025-26 End of Year Report for County Durham. It detailed performance against key metrics, including emergency admissions to hospital for people aged 65+, average days from Discharge Ready Date to discharge, and admissions to long-term residential and nursing care homes for people aged 65+. The report indicated that while emergency admissions were on track, discharge delays and long-term care home admissions had not met planned targets. Expenditure for the year was also detailed.

Better Care Fund Plan for 2026-27

The Board was to receive the final version of the Better Care Fund 2026-27 Numerical Template and Narrative Return for County Durham. The plan outlines how Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), Local Authorities, and Health and Wellbeing Boards should plan and agree expenditure for 2026-27, with a focus on aligning plans with neighbourhood health services. The report detailed the BCF allocation for 2026-27 and the factors considered in planning and expenditure, including intermediate care, home adaptations, and support for unpaid carers.

The meeting also included scheduled items such as the election of a Chair and Vice-Chair, apologies for absence, and the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting.