The Health and Wellbeing Board of Bath and North East Somerset Council was scheduled to discuss the impact of prolonged heat and drought conditions on local communities, an integrated update on suicide prevention efforts, and progress on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy. The meeting also included an update on changes within the NHS.

Prolonged Heat and Drought Conditions

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on the impact of the summer's prolonged heat and drought conditions on the health and wellbeing of communities in Bath and North East Somerset. This update was to be provided by representatives from Avon and Somerset Police and Avon Fire & Rescue Service. A report from Avon Fire & Rescue Service highlighted that the exceptionally high temperatures and dry weather had increased the risk of wildfires and outdoor fires, as well as posing risks to water safety. The report noted that extreme weather and climate change had been identified as an emerging strategic risk, with a record number of wildfires nationally and spikes in deliberate primary fires during hot periods. The impact extends beyond increased fire numbers, affecting operational demand, firefighter welfare, resource availability, and community resilience. The report recommended maintaining and developing the Heat-Ready trigger plan, increasing seasonal wildfire prevention campaigns, strengthening firefighter welfare, reviewing equipment and capability, improving intelligence and risk mapping, strengthening mutual-aid arrangements, increasing partnership working with landowners, supporting vulnerable communities during heatwaves, and reviewing incidents after significant heatwaves.

Integrated Suicide Prevention Update

An integrated update was scheduled to be presented on three linked areas: the delivery of the Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan, university work on student mental health and suicide prevention, and an update from the Integrated Care Board (ICB) on community mental health pathways. The report indicated that the B&NES Suicide Prevention Strategy 2024-2028 and Action Plan 2026-2027 were being delivered through a multi-agency partnership. Key focus areas included developing a suicide deaths review process, providing self-harm guidance for schools and colleges, enhancing crisis and bereavement support, integrating intensive outreach, expanding naloxone training, and coordinating suicide prevention training. Universities had developed specific wellbeing and suicide prevention provisions, alongside a city-wide NHS/Higher Education Institution (HEI) forum. The ICB, Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health and Wellbeing Partnership (AWP), and Bath Mind reported continued work on national safety guidance, personalised safety planning, and community mental health pathways, including a pilot for VCSE support for individuals presenting at the Royal United Hospital (RUH) Emergency Department and plans for a single point of access for primary care referrals. The report highlighted cross-cutting risks such as increasing demand linked to socio-economic pressures, high levels of self-harm, workforce and system capacity issues, and emerging risks from digital and online harms, as well as the potential mental health impacts of climate change.

Joint Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy Exception Reporting

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on the Quarter 2 Exception Reports relating to the implementation of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy. The report indicated that out of 43 action items, 2 were rated as 'RED' (significantly off track), 12 as 'AMBER' (off track but risk manageable within the financial year), and 29 as 'GREEN' (on track). The update noted that the implementation of the Families First Partnership Programme was rated 'AMBER' due to extended consultation, with implementation scheduled for November 2026. The Improve Disadvantaged Educational Outcomes Programme was also rated 'AMBER' due to the proposed use of funding for specific interventions rather than extending action learning sets, and the recruitment of an Education Attainment Inequalities Programme Manager was pending. The development of a plan to address the impact of wider determinants on the educational attainment gap was also rated 'AMBER' due to the need to establish a cross-system strategic group. Several actions related to ensuring services for children and young people with emotional health and wellbeing needs were rated 'AMBER', including the alignment of commissioned services with future commissioning intentions, influencing the Integrated Care Alliance (ICA) to invest in a joint work programme, and improving the identification of children and young people for the Dynamic Support Register. The transition processes between children and young people's and adult services were also rated 'AMBER'.

Changes within the NHS

Lucy Baker, Place Director for B&NES ICB, was scheduled to provide an update on recent changes within the NHS. This update was expected to cover staff redundancies, recruitment, new working structures, and the transition of ICBs to the role of strategic commissioner. It was also noted that Lucy Baker would be responsible for children, young people, maternity, and women's health across a wider cluster. Jean Kelly was to provide confirmation of the submission of the plan for SEND reform.

Feedback from Development Sessions

The Board was scheduled to receive feedback following a previous development session on the B&NES Climate and Nature Strategy.