The Derbyshire Health and Wellbeing Board met on Thursday 1 October 2026 to discuss a range of important public health matters. Key topics included the development of neighbourhood health plans, updates on mental health services, and strategies for preventing self-harm and suicide.

Neighbourhood Health Update and Board Development and Terms of Reference

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the evolving landscape of neighbourhood health. The Board was scheduled to consider proposed neighbourhood geographies, which have been developed as a starting point for creating new Neighbourhood Health models. These models aim to move care and support closer to communities, strengthening prevention efforts and improving integration across various services, including the NHS, local government, social care, public health, and the voluntary sector. The report pack outlined the steps being taken to develop a Neighbourhood Health Plan, drawing on existing strategies and a new theory of change.

The Board was also set to review draft revised terms of reference for the Derbyshire Health and Wellbeing Board itself. These revisions are intended to reflect the Board's key role in supporting Neighbourhood Health, alongside its existing statutory duties. Proposed changes to the membership were also on the agenda, including the addition of representatives from the East Midlands Cancer Alliance and the East Midlands Combined County Authority. The report pack indicated that a final version of the terms of reference would be presented in January 2027, following Cabinet approval.

Mental Health Neighbourhood Working

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on the emerging Derbyshire Healthcare Neighbourhood Mental Health Model. This model aims to extend the successful Living Well approach across a more open, local, connected, preventative, and personalised system. The ambition is to create integrated teams working around local populations, offering open-access neighbourhood support, and improving urgent and crisis care. The report pack highlighted that by 2029, the intended outcomes include alternatives to Emergency Department attendance during mental health crises and more care delivered closer to home. The model is still in its emerging design stage, with a focus on co-design with communities and system partners.

Derby and Derbyshire Self-harm and Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework 2026-30

A key item on the agenda was the Derby and Derbyshire Self-harm and Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework 2026-30. The report pack noted that suicide rates in Derby and Derbyshire are higher than the national average, with significant impacts on individuals and communities. The framework aims to provide direction for local partners and the system to play a role in improving outcomes and reducing self-harm and suicide. A Call to Action is to be developed, focusing on principles such as Ask, Listen and Act and the use of safety plans.

The Board was also scheduled to discuss the development of an improved Real Time Suspected Suicide Surveillance (RTSSS) system. The current system was described as providing limited data, hindering the ability to identify and respond to suicide clusters effectively. The report pack outlined the potential for various organisations, including Derbyshire Constabulary, NHS trusts, and the Coroners Service, to contribute data to a more robust RTSSS system.

Derbyshire Public Health Approach to the Emotional Wellbeing of Children and Young People

Following the discussion on self-harm and suicide prevention, the Board was set to consider the Derbyshire Public Health approach to the emotional wellbeing of children and young people. This approach aims to improve positive mental wellbeing, enable early identification of needs, and provide low-level interventions at the earliest possible stage, aligning with the evidence-based Thrive framework.

Derbyshire Dales Locality Health and Wellbeing Partnership

An update was scheduled from the Derbyshire Dales Locality Health and Wellbeing Partnership. This partnership, as a sub-group of the main Board, would present its current projects and priorities, highlighting activities addressing health outcomes and any challenges that may require escalation.

Health and Wellbeing Round Up Report

The Health and Wellbeing Round Up Report was intended to provide a summary of key progress on health and wellbeing issues and projects not covered elsewhere on the agenda. This included updates on national and local policy developments, such as reports on Health as an Economic Asset, Growing up in an online world, and the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment: A springboard for action. The report also included notifications of pharmacy applications and intelligence gathered by Healthwatch Derbyshire concerning mental health services.

Health Protection Board Update Report

Finally, the Board was to receive an update from the Derbyshire Health Protection Board. This sub-group provides assurance on arrangements for health protection, surveillance, planning, and response. The update was expected to cover performance for screening and immunisation programmes, including planning for the autumn/winter vaccination programmes, and initiatives to reduce inequalities in uptake. It was also to include a review of progress on the Health Protection Strategy's focus on vulnerable groups and an update on communicable disease epidemiology.