The Bexley Health and Wellbeing Board is scheduled to convene on Tuesday 16 June 2026 to discuss a range of important health and social care matters affecting the borough. Key topics include the financial management of the Better Care Fund, an update on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform plan, and the annual public health report for 2025-26. The Board will also receive an update on improvements at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and review the Bexley Wellbeing Partnership's quarterly summary.

Better Care Fund Assurance and End of Year Returns

The Board will consider two reports concerning the Better Care Fund (BCF) ¹. The first report presents Bexley's BCF Assurance Return for 2026-27, outlining how the £97.056 million pooled fund will be used to support integrated and preventative care. This includes details on planned expenditure, trajectories for national metrics such as non-elective admissions and discharge delays, and joint governance arrangements. The Board is asked to formally approve this return and authorise the Director of Adult Social Care and Health to agree any necessary amendments following the national assurance process.

The second report seeks the Board's sign-off for Bexley's BCF End of Year Return for 2025-26. This report confirms compliance with national conditions and details the BCF metrics and expenditure for the past year. It highlights that Bexley is provisionally assessed as on track to meet its target for emergency admissions of people aged 65 and over, and that admissions to care homes for this age group remain below the planned level. The report also notes that while the proportion of patients discharged on their Discharge Ready Date reduced in the latter half of the year, the majority of patients were still discharged without delay, and where delays occurred, they were typically short.

Update on Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) Reform Plan

A report will be presented detailing the progress made in developing Bexley's Local SEND Reform Plan. This plan is being developed in response to requirements from the Department for Education and NHS England, following assessments of local readiness for the SEND reforms. The report outlines the timeline for preparing the Local Maturity Assessment Tool, Data Template, and the Reform Plan itself, which is scheduled for submission on 19 June. The reforms aim to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND by promoting early intervention, local provision, fairness in resource allocation, effective practice, and strong partnerships between education, health, and care services. The report also touches upon the financial implications of these reforms, including changes to the High Needs Block of the Dedicated Schools Grant and the cessation of the Safety Valve Programme.

Annual Public Health Report 2025-26

The Annual Public Health Report (APHR) for 2025-26 will be presented, offering a long-term perspective on Bexley's health up to 2050. It highlights the significant impact of demographic changes, neighbourhood inequalities, environmental conditions, and digital access on residents' wellbeing. The report identifies obesity, mental health pressures, neighbourhood health disparities, environmental challenges, and digital exclusion as the most significant long-term health risks facing the borough. It advocates for a unified, cross-council, and system-wide approach, aligned with Bexley's 2050 Vision, and calls for the endorsement of key prevention priorities, the expansion of neighbourhood-based delivery models, the embedding of Health in All Policies across council functions, and the development of a shared outcomes framework to monitor progress.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Care Quality Commission Rating Improvement

The Board will receive an update on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection outcome for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), part of the Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust. The report indicates that the hospital's overall rating has been upgraded to Good, reflecting sustained improvements in the quality of care, leadership, multidisciplinary working, and patient experience. The inspection recognised effective care delivery, compassionate treatment, responsive services, and supportive leadership. While the Safe domain was not rated Good overall, the report notes positive features in incident reporting and safeguarding, with further work required to ensure consistency in this area. The Board is asked to note this outcome and support the continued focus on quality improvement.

Bexley Wellbeing Partnership - Quarterly Summary

A quarterly summary from the Bexley Wellbeing Partnership will be presented, highlighting progress in three key areas. Firstly, the proposed Strategic Investment Fund delivery plan outlines a neighbourhood-based model focusing on integrator development, frailty and ageing well, managing multiple long-term conditions, supporting children and young people, prevention, and the digital and workforce enablers required for implementation. Secondly, Bexley's digital transformation programme is showing strong progress, with high NHS App uptake, effective use of Universal Care Plans, and early evidence that the getUbetter app is improving access and managing demand. Thirdly, investment in primary care and community outreach is supporting earlier intervention, proactive care, and improved access in local settings. The report indicates good progress towards shifting care towards prevention, neighbourhood delivery, and joined-up community-based support.

Public Questions

A period of up to 15 minutes will be allocated for public questions, allowing residents to ask questions relevant to the Board's work.

Items for Information and Any Other Business

The Board will consider its draft work plan for 2026/27. This plan may be subject to change due to potential shifts in the role of Health and Wellbeing Boards. The Board is invited to review and amend the work plan as necessary.