The ONE Stockport Health and Care Board met on Wednesday 30 September 2026 to discuss a range of initiatives aimed at improving health and well-being across Stockport. Key decisions included the approval of Memoranda of Understanding for ENT and Gynaecology community services and the endorsement of refreshed Neighbourhood Health and Delivery Plans for 2026-2028. The Board also received updates on the Live Well programme, the PEACS® pilot for chronic pain, mental health services, GP survey results, and the Age-Friendly Partnership.

Place Based Lead and Deputy Place Based Lead Update

Philippa Johnson, Place Partnership Director for Stockport NHS GM, provided an update on the board's activities. She noted that the locality team is undergoing a transition, moving from the ICB to be hosted by Stockport Foundation Trust, a process expected to take around six months. This move is intended to reduce running costs. Johnson also highlighted ongoing work on SEND reforms, noting rising demand and the development of a needs-led model for children and young people with neurodiversity. A new neurodevelopment hub has been established to provide additional early help. Progress was also reported on the town centre health site development, with a site visit completed and work underway on the business case. An update on St Thomas' Liverpool Centre and the implementation of a new intermediate care centre was also mentioned, with a suggestion to bring a more detailed report to a future meeting. Finally, a change in the schedule for development sessions was announced, with housing now planned for October and finance and resource time moved to December.

NHS GM Acting CEO Update

Philippa Johnson also presented the NHS GM Acting CEO update. Key points included the upcoming interview for the ICB Chair position, which will also involve Health Commissioner responsibilities for Greater Manchester, working closely with the Mayor. The Winter Vaccinations Programme and Student Vaccination Programme have commenced. Johnson flagged challenges at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, noting significant issues with organisational culture and leadership, and potential impacts on Stockport due to some specialist services being provided by the Alliance. Industrial action in theatres was also mentioned as a concern. Finally, work on the NHS GM Board Assurance Framework and board risks was noted, with plans to mirror this in Stockport once the new organisational form and partnership agreement are settled.

Live Well Programme Update

Heidi Shaw, Director of Family Health, presented an update on the Live Well Programme. She highlighted the launch of a borough-wide network of Live Well spaces, extending beyond the flagship Stock Room to include libraries, leisure centres, and family hubs. A refreshed workforce development offer now includes a blended approach of face-to-face and online learning. The Live Well Implementation Fund has supported 37 community projects with approximately £460,000. The National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme has completed its initial test-and-learn phase, identifying the value of early intervention and stronger neighbourhood partnerships. Area Leadership Teams are working to integrate health, social care, housing, and community partners, with current priorities including dementia, unpaid carers, and frailty. Stockport is collaborating with other Greater Manchester localities on the Live Well approach and has established a Live Well Evaluation and Learning Group. Future priorities include scaling work on frailty, dementia, and end-of-life support, preventing family breakdown, strengthening integrated neighbourhood teams, improving information and advice offers, and delivering the Greater Manchester Prevention Demonstrator Programme. The board was asked to note the progress and support the continued alignment of Live Well delivery with One Stockport health and care priorities.

Pain: Equality of Care and Support in Community (PEACS) Expression of Interest

Dr Viren Mehta, GP and Primary Care Representative, presented an update on the PEACS® (Pain: Equality of Care and Support in the Community) initiative. Stockport, through Viaduct Care CIC, submitted an expression of interest to become a national adopter site for this community-based persistent pain model. Tame Valley Primary Care Network was identified as a focus area due to high deprivation, significant health inequalities, elevated opioid and gabapentinoid prescribing, and barriers to accessing central pain services. Stockport was successfully chosen as one of three national pilot sites and has been awarded funding to undertake this work. The model will be delivered through Stockport's neighbourhood model, integrating primary care, community and mental health services, specialist expertise, and VCFSE partners. The focus will be on proactive outreach, co-design with people with lived experience, and robust evaluation.

ENT / Gynae MOU

Gail Edwards, Associate Director for NHS GM Stockport, presented the Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for ENT and Gynaecology community services. These MoUs are part of a Greater Manchester investment to support elective recovery by shifting acute waiting list activity to the community. A total investment of approximately £818,000 is split between Gynaecology (£591,603) and ENT. Initially proposed as one MoU, it has been separated into two to reflect Stockport's delivery arrangements. Stockport Foundation Trust has already signed both MoUs. The Gynaecology service will involve commissioning through Greater Manchester Primary Care Community Interest Company (CiC) and Locala Community Health CIC, with Stockport Foundation Trust providing additional capacity. The ENT delivery is an interim arrangement with Manchester Surgical Services. Funding will be released in two stages, with the second half dependent on mobilisation progress and delivery confidence. Risks include reliance on workforce capacity and potential failure to show expected waiting list impact. The Board was asked to support the sign-off of the MoUs.

Place Mobilisation Feedback

Philippa Johnson presented feedback on the Place Mobilisation document suite. Stockport's submission supported the direction of travel, particularly the focus on prevention, population health, neighbourhood working, and integrated resource use. However, Stockport requested greater clarity on practicalities of delivery, including mechanisms for left shift (moving services from acute to community settings), risk sharing, clinical governance, and accountability between local and GM levels. Feedback from across GM highlighted common themes around governance, accountability, decision-making, partner representation, the Place Fund, finances, and outcomes metrics. NHS GM is incorporating this feedback into the final documents, which are expected imminently. Next steps involve partners taking the revised documents through their respective governance processes for sign-off.

Mental Health Annual Update

Sarah Dillon, Executive Director for Adult Social Care and Health, and Nina Fedorski, Co-chair of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board, presented the Mental Health Annual Update. Fedorski, sharing her personal experience with bipolar disorder, emphasised the importance of lived experience in shaping services and highlighted the strength of co-production. Key messages included the involvement of people with lived experience at partnership meetings, work to improve carer involvement, and the development of neighbourhood mental health teams. Challenges remain, including delays in hospital discharge, finding suitable housing and care, access to medication, and secure long-term funding for voluntary community groups. The report stressed the need for early involvement of people with lived experience in service design and closing the feedback loop. Michael Cullen, Chief Executive of the Council, pledged action to address inconsistencies in co-production and highlighted the importance of good jobs and homes for mental well-being. He also echoed the call for longer-term funding commitments for the voluntary community faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector.

Planning: Stockport Neighbourhood Health Plan and ONE Stockport Delivery Plan

Philippa Johnson and Gail Edwards presented the refreshed Neighbourhood Health Plan and the ONE Stockport Delivery Plan for 2026/27-2027/28. The refresh was prompted by new national guidance on the Neighbourhood Health Framework. The plans aim to sharpen existing priorities and improve readability. They align with national and GM strategies, focusing on prevention, population health, neighbourhood working, and integrated use of resources. The Neighbourhood Health Plan outlines four main aims, governance, geography, milestones, and metrics, while the Delivery Plan details the actions. Key priorities include enhancing neighbourhood health for proactive and preventative care, improving intermediate care to support hospital demand, developing a town centre neighbourhood health hub, and improving the offer for children, young people, and families. The plans are being submitted to NHS GM for approval.

GP Survey Results

Dr Viren Mehta presented the findings of the 2026 GP Patient Survey. Stockport practices delivered 1.97 million appointments in 2025, the highest in Greater Manchester (GM) and in the top quartile nationally. Stockport benchmarks highest for patient satisfaction within GM, excelling in over two-thirds of individual indicators. One PCN, Stockport East and South, ranked highest for patient satisfaction in GM for the second consecutive year, with three practices in the top ten. There was a significant increase in online consultation and NHS App usage. The report highlighted that while overall patient experience is strong, variation exists between practices, and continued work is focused on those practices with lower satisfaction scores. Data for pharmacy and dental services was also discussed, noting that information for these disciplines is less granular than for general practice.

Stockport Age Friendly Partnership Update

Sarah Dillon presented the update from the Stockport Age-Friendly Partnership. The partnership has made significant progress over the last 12 months, focusing on ten key areas including housing, transport, public spaces, health, social participation, and digital inclusion. Practical improvements include the opening of new extra care and supported living schemes, the launch of the Live Well Independently in Stockport Suite, and the completion of personalised care plans for over 75s. Dementia support has been strengthened, and community and intergenerational activities have expanded. Digital inclusion work has continued with neighbourhood drop-ins and training for volunteers. Future ambitions include strengthening dementia and frailty pathways and focusing Live Well resources on older adults.

Questions from the Public

No questions were raised by the public.

Any Other Business

No other business was raised.

The next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, 30 November 2026.

The meeting concluded at 16:30.

The meeting was held on Wednesday 30 September 2026. The information status was CONFIRMED_HELD.

Summary of Decisions Made:

• Minutes of previous meeting (29 July 2026): Approved as an accurate reflection of the meeting's discussion.
• Actions and Matters Arising: Two open actions were closed (LB21 and LB24), and three remained in progress (LB20, LB22, LB23).
• ENT / Gynae MOU: The Board supported the Memoranda of Understanding for ENT and Gynaecology community services to be signed by the ICB locality, noting that Stockport Foundation Trust had already signed them.
• Planning: Stockport Neighbourhood Health Plan and ONE Stockport Delivery Plan: The Board was asked to approve the plans, subject to agreement from partners not present at the meeting, specifically Pennine and Stockport Foundation Trust.

Key Decisions and Discussions:

Live Well Programme Update

The Board noted the progress of the Live Well Programme and supported its continued alignment with One Stockport Health and Care delivery priorities.

Pain: Equality of Care and Support in Community (PEACS) Expression of Interest

The Board noted the expression of interest and provided feedback on potential risks, dependencies, and issues for the PEACS® mobilisation. Stockport was successfully awarded funding to become a National Adopter Site.

Place Mobilisation Feedback

The Board noted the feedback provided on the draft Place Partnership document suite. The feedback highlighted common themes across GM, including governance, accountability, financial arrangements, partner representation, and the need for practical delivery clarity. NHS GM will use this feedback to inform the final iteration of the documents.

Mental Health Annual Update

The Board noted the annual update on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Partnership's activities, acknowledging the importance of lived experience and co-production. The report highlighted progress in areas such as employment support, housing, and neighbourhood mental health teams, while also identifying ongoing challenges like hospital discharge delays and funding for VCFSE organisations.

GP Survey Results

The Board noted the findings of the 2026 GP Patient Survey, which indicated strong patient experience in Stockport, particularly in comparison to GM and national benchmarks. The survey highlighted increased digital access and satisfaction, but also identified variations in access and experience across practices. The Board supported the proposed areas of focus for improvements and provided feedback on risks and dependencies.

Stockport Age Friendly Partnership Update

The Board noted the progress highlights from the 2025/26 Action Plan and the new Action Plan for 2026/27. The update detailed achievements across ten domains, including housing, social participation, digital inclusion, and health services, demonstrating continued progress in making Stockport a more age-friendly place.

Planning: Stockport Neighbourhood Health Plan and ONE Stockport Delivery Plan

The Board was presented with the refreshed Neighbourhood Health Plan and ONE Stockport Delivery Plan for 2026/27-2027/28. These plans outline four key priorities: enhanced neighbourhood health for proactive and preventative care, improved intermediate care, improved neighbourhood health and care in the town centre, and an improved offer for children, young people, and families. The Board was asked to approve these plans, subject to further agreement from key partners not present.

Topics Discussed:

Live Well Programme

The Live Well Programme was discussed, with updates on the expansion of Live Well Spaces across Stockport, a refreshed workforce development offer, and progress on the Live Well Implementation Fund. The Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme's learning was highlighted as informing future delivery, with a focus on frailty, dementia, and end-of-life care. Area Leadership Teams are working to integrate health, social care, and community partners.

NHS GM Acting CEO Update

This update covered national and regional developments, including the launch of HPV self-testing, the transfer of NHS England direct commissioning functions, and the NHS GM reform programme. Concerns were raised about the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust and industrial action.

ENT / Gynae MOU

The Board discussed and supported the signing of Memoranda of Understanding for community Gynaecology and ENT services. This initiative aims to shift activity from acute settings to the community, supported by national funding, to reduce waiting lists and improve patient access.

Place Mobilisation Feedback

Feedback on the draft Place Partnership document suite was discussed, with Stockport's response highlighting support for the direction of travel but requesting greater clarity on practical implementation, governance, financial flows, and resident involvement.

Mental Health Annual Update

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Partnership presented its annual update, emphasising the importance of lived experience and co-production. Discussions covered employment support, housing, neighbourhood mental health teams, and the challenges of hospital discharge delays and funding for VCFSE organisations.

Planning: Stockport Neighbourhood Health Plan and ONE Stockport Delivery Plan

The refreshed Neighbourhood Health Plan and ONE Stockport Delivery Plan were presented, outlining four key priorities for neighbourhood health and care over the next two years. These plans aim to enhance preventative care, improve intermediate care, develop a town centre health hub, and strengthen support for children and families.

GP Survey Results

The GP Patient Survey results showed strong overall patient experience in Stockport, with high satisfaction in GP practices, pharmacy services, and increasing use of digital access routes. However, variations in access and experience across practices were noted, indicating areas for further improvement.

Stockport Age Friendly Partnership Update

The Age-Friendly Partnership reported on progress across ten domains, including housing, social participation, and digital inclusion. Key achievements included the opening of new extra care schemes and the Live Well Independently Stockport Suite.

Pain: Equality of Care and Support in Community (PEACS)

Stockport's successful bid to become a national adopter site for the PEACS® model was announced. This pilot aims to improve community-based care for persistent pain, focusing on areas with high deprivation and health inequalities.

The meeting was held on Wednesday 30 September 2026. The informationstatus was CONFIRMEDHELD.

Neighbourhood Health Plan and ONE Stockport Delivery Plan Approved

The ONE Stockport Health and Care Board approved the refreshed Neighbourhood Health Plan and ONE Stockport Delivery Plan for 2026/27-2027/28. These plans outline four key priorities: enhancing neighbourhood health for proactive and preventative care, improving intermediate care, developing a town centre neighbourhood health hub, and strengthening support for children, young people, and families. The plans aim to shift services towards prevention and community-based support, aligning with national and Greater Manchester strategies.

ENT and Gynaecology Community Services MoUs Signed

The Board supported the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for ENT and Gynaecology community services. This initiative, funded by Greater Manchester, aims to increase the number of patient pathways by moving services from acute hospital settings into the community, thereby reducing waiting lists and improving patient access. Stockport Foundation Trust had already signed the MoUs, and the Board's support allows for the ICB locality to proceed with signing.

Live Well Programme Progress Noted

The Board noted the ongoing progress of the Live Well Programme, including the expansion of Live Well Spaces across Stockport, a refreshed workforce development offer, and the successful allocation of funds through the Live Well Implementation Fund. The programme's alignment with One Stockport health and care priorities was also supported.

PEACS® Pilot for Chronic Pain Approved

Stockport's successful bid to become a national adopter site for the PEACS® (Pain: Equality of Care and Support in the Community) model was noted. This pilot programme will focus on community-based care for persistent pain, particularly in areas with high deprivation and health inequalities, aiming to improve access and outcomes.

Place Mobilisation Feedback Incorporated

The Board noted the feedback provided on the draft Place Partnership document suite. This feedback, gathered from various stakeholders across Greater Manchester, will be used by NHS GM to refine the documents, focusing on areas such as governance, accountability, financial arrangements, and partner representation.

Mental Health Services Update Received

The Board received an annual update on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Partnership, highlighting progress in areas like employment support and neighbourhood mental health teams. Challenges related to hospital discharge delays and funding for VCFSE organisations were also discussed, underscoring the ongoing need for integrated and accessible mental health support.

GP Survey Results and Action Plan Supported

The findings of the 2026 GP Patient Survey were presented, indicating strong overall patient experience in Stockport's GP practices, with high levels of satisfaction regarding digital access. While acknowledging the positive results, the Board also noted variations in access and experience across different practices, supporting proposed areas of focus for future improvements.

Age-Friendly Partnership Progress Noted

The Board noted the progress of the Stockport Age-Friendly Partnership, with highlights from the 2025/26 Action Plan and the introduction of the 2026/27 Action Plan. Achievements spanned housing, social participation, digital inclusion, and health services, demonstrating ongoing efforts to make Stockport a more age-friendly place.

No Public Questions or Other Business

No questions were raised by the public, and no other business was brought forward for discussion.

The meeting was held on Wednesday 30 September 2026. The informationstatus was CONFIRMEDHELD.