The Buckinghamshire Health and Wellbeing Board met on Thursday 3 September 2026 to discuss progress on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the Director of Public Health's annual report, and updates from Healthwatch and the Thames Valley Integrated Care Board. Key discussions included the development of neighbourhood health plans, the building blocks of health framework, and challenges faced by rural communities.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy Focus - Principles and Neighbourhood Health Planning

The Board received an update on the progress of Buckinghamshire's Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Neighbourhood Programme. Bobby Potts, Director for Integrated Care for Bucks Place-Based Partnership, presented the report, highlighting that the county has moved from designing neighbourhood models to implementing them, with encouraging early outcomes. The strategy focuses on four principles: working with communities, establishing integrated neighbourhood teams, being evidence-led, and applying an equity lens.

Key achievements include the establishment of a Neighbourhood Programme Group and six neighbourhood steering groups, the development of Population Health Management packs for every neighbourhood, and a significant increase in the usage of the shared care record. Community Health and Wellbeing Workers are now engaging with residents in deprived areas, and initiatives like social prescribing have shown measurable results, including a 14% reduction in emergency admissions in 2025/26.

The Board was asked to note the progress made, endorse the priorities for 2026/27, and agree to review a full Neighbourhood Health Plan in the future. Councillor Isobel Darby, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing and Chair of the Board, questioned whether adequate resources were available to deliver the planned changes. It was acknowledged that while ambitions are high, resource will always be a challenge, but the shared agenda and drawing together of existing resources from partner organisations is a key strength. Daniel Leveson, Director for Places and Communities at Thames Valley ICB, added that some innovation funding had been held back to support partnerships and accelerate development.

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2026

David Munday, Director of Public Health for Buckinghamshire, presented his annual report, titled Buckinghamshire's Building Blocks: A Blueprint for Better Health and Wellbeing. The report reframes the understanding of health by exploring seven Building Blocks : Surroundings, Housing, Money and Resources, Food, Education and Skills, Transport, and Community. It highlights that while Buckinghamshire has a strong base, these building blocks are not equally distributed, leading to health inequalities.

The report emphasizes a prevention-focused approach, recognising that health is shaped by the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, and work. It details how these factors impact residents and provides recommendations for collective action. Key themes included the importance of secure employment, good quality housing, access to green spaces, and strong community connections. The report also highlighted the interconnectedness of these factors, using case studies of Amir (representing positive outcomes) and Lisa (representing challenges due to disadvantage) to illustrate the impact of these building blocks on health.

The Board was asked to note the report, consider how their organisations would take forward the recommendations, and use the report to inform the development of Neighbourhood Health Plans. Raghu Bhasin, Chief Executive Officer of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, expressed strong support for the report's wider view of health and wellbeing, emphasizing the need to increase community assets and resilience. Daniel Leveson noted the importance of addressing issues like damp and cold homes and the potential for better data integration to identify at-risk individuals. Andrea Young, Chair of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, raised points about the role of anchor institutions in upskilling young people and the need for healthy lifestyles within NHS organisations.

Healthwatch Update

Alison Holloway, Project Manager with Healthwatch Bucks, and Zoe McIntosh, Chief Executive of Healthwatch Bucks, presented two reports: Rural Communities: Accessing Health and Social Care and My Health, My Responsibility.

The Rural Communities report highlighted that while most rural residents in Buckinghamshire described their health as good, many faced challenges accessing GP appointments and healthcare services. Transport remains a significant barrier, particularly for those without access to a car or reliable public transport. Digital inclusion was also identified as an issue, with some residents experiencing poor connectivity or lacking confidence in using technology. Recommendations included improving digital inclusion, increasing awareness of local services, bringing services closer to communities, and expanding community transport options. George Gavriel, Director for Buckinghamshire Primary Care, who declared a conflict of interest as a rural GP, welcomed the report and noted its alignment with national focus on rural healthcare, but cautioned that some national policies might not be suitable for rural areas.

The My Health, My Responsibility report explored residents' perceptions of their responsibility for their own health and the steps they take to stay well. Key findings indicated that most respondents did not smoke, and many participated in health checks. However, a third considered themselves overweight, and barriers to healthy lifestyles included lack of time, cost, and insufficient knowledge about available support. The majority agreed that health was their responsibility, but 60% desired more affordable and accessible leisure facilities. Recommendations included increasing promotion of preventative programmes, considering diverse methods for sharing information, publicising risk factors for common conditions, and emphasizing that exercise is beneficial for everyone, regardless of cost or intensity. David Munday, Director of Public Health, noted the importance of communicating the benefits of physical activity in a way that is accessible and encouraging. Daniel Leveson expressed caution about the title My Health, My Responsibility, highlighting the systemic barriers some populations face and advocating for a proportional, universal approach.

Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB) Update

Daniel Leveson, Director for Places and Communities at the Thames Valley ICB, provided an update on the ICB's operating model development, neighbourhood health development, and primary care initiatives. The ICB is progressing with its organisational restructure, aiming to accelerate appointments and improve efficiency.

Regarding neighbourhood health development, Buckinghamshire was highlighted as an advanced example due to its unitary authority structure, integrated provider relationships, federated primary care, and strong partnership working. The next phase will focus on implementation, including agreeing governance, confirming geographies, developing neighbourhood health plans, and strengthening collaborative commissioning. A strategic development partner will be appointed to accelerate implementation across Thames Valley.

The ICB has also submitted its Primary Care Action Plan, focusing on improving access to services, digital transformation, developing new community-based models of care, and establishing a Primary Care Provider Collaborative. The new NHS dental contract is also being implemented.

The report also touched upon the New Frimley Park Hospital Programme, noting its relevance to South Buckinghamshire residents who access services through Frimley Health pathways. Engagement activity is underway, with feedback focusing on transport, parking, environmental impacts, and the site selection process. Key interests for Buckinghamshire include access to acute and specialist services, connectivity and transport, and supporting the shift to community-based care. The ICB reported a balanced financial position at Month 2 of 2026/27.

David Munday commented on the pace and complexity of organisational change, emphasizing the importance of engagement and connection with local partners. Daniel Leveson agreed, highlighting that neighbourhood health development necessitates this connection and that defining populations and geographies is a crucial starting point. Craig McArdle raised a question about local engagement regarding the New Frimley Park Hospital Programme, which Daniel Leveson undertook to check on.

The Board also noted the Forward Plan for the next meeting on 12 November 2026, which will include discussions on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy's Start Well theme, Gambling Harm JSNA, and the Long Term Rough Sleeper Partnership Plan. David Munday proposed that an update on the Combating Drugs and Alcohol Partnership also be scheduled for the November meeting, which was agreed.