The Health and Wellbeing Board met on Monday 15 June 2026 to discuss the Better Care Fund and the progress of the Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy 2025-2030. The Board noted the report on the Better Care Fund and the progress made in the first year of the strategy.

Better Care Fund

The Board noted the report on the Better Care Fund (BCF) plan for 2026-27, which details a total of £54.5 million in pooled funding. This national programme aims to integrate health, social care, and community services to help residents live independently for longer, reduce hospital admissions, and support timely hospital discharges. The plan largely builds on existing approaches, continuing to invest in services that support people to receive care at home or closer to home. Key areas of focus for the BCF include home adaptations, rehabilitation and reablement services following hospital discharge, and support for community and voluntary sector services.

The Board noted that performance in 2025-26 was strong regarding emergency admissions and long-term admissions to care homes, with targets met in both areas. However, the target for discharge delays was not met, attributed to improved reporting accuracy and a cohort of complex discharge cases. System-wide initiatives are in place to strengthen discharge pathways, which remain a key focus for 2026-27.

During the discussion, Councillor Samantha Gardiner, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, highlighted the importance of the BCF in helping people stay well at home. Questions were raised about strategies to manage hospital discharges, with Denise Radley, Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health, explaining initiatives such as Flowtober and a coordinated super march response. Challenges in finding suitable placements for individuals with complex needs, particularly those with dementia, were also discussed.

Concerns were raised about the pooling of resources and its implications for council budgets. Lisa Hansen, the Better Care Fund Delivery Manager, explained that the BCF aims to provide greater benefits by pooling funding and streamlining services. She also noted that the BCF has been used to route additional funding to both local authorities and the NHS.

Councillor Rotimi Skyers, Cabinet Member for Children, SEND, Youth Empowerment and Culture, inquired about collaboration with neighbouring boroughs regarding discharges, and it was confirmed that strong connections exist, with dedicated staff focused on out-of-borough placements. Michael Kerin, the Healthwatch Representative, commented on the BCF's role in fostering NHS and local government collaboration and its potential to support neighbourhood development.

Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy 2025-2030: Review of Year 1 Actions

The Board reviewed the progress made in the first year of the Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy 2025-2030, focusing on three key priority areas: Food Justice, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco.

Dr Catherine Mbema, Director of Public Health, presented the strategy, which prioritises social determinants of health such as housing, education, and poverty, alongside prevention programmes.

Food Justice: Progress includes the distribution of community grants to 19 projects, supporting over 20,000 people. Research is being commissioned on food environment drivers of food injustice, with a focus on minoritised communities. Lewisham's Food Justice work has been recognised in the 'Good Food Local: London report 2026'.

Sexual and Reproductive Health: A joint sexual health strategy for five boroughs in South East London was published in March 2026. An HIV PrEP pilot has commenced, and a Lewisham Sexual Health Partnership has been established. The latest Local Government Outcomes Framework (LGOF) data shows improvements in HIV PrEP uptake and STI testing rates.

Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco: The Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco Strategic Priorities 2025–2028 were agreed and published. Progress includes increased workforce capacity for stop smoking services, the establishment of alcohol community detox services, and maintained harm reduction offers. Alcohol-specific mortality has significantly improved, and unmet treatment need for opiates and crack cocaine has reduced.

Michael Kerin raised questions about the timeliness of data used to assess progress and the integration of community engagement into the strategy. Dr Mbema explained efforts to develop a more up-to-date dashboard and highlighted that community engagement is embedded within action areas, with specific examples like the Lewisham's Expert by Experience Network for drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

Councillor Samantha Gardiner raised concerns about the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 and the impact of global conflicts on food justice networks. Logan Manikam, an interim consultant in public health, confirmed work with trading standards to address vaping, and Dr Mbema discussed the Healthy Weight Alliance and efforts to address commercial determinants of health related to fast food.

The Board noted the progress made against Year 1 actions in the implementation plan and the latest LGOF public health indicator data for Lewisham. The data shows improvements in healthy life expectancy, alcohol-specific mortality, and HIV PrEP uptake, while areas such as under-18 conception rates and NHS Health Check completion rates require further focus.