The Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board met on Tuesday, 5 March 2024, to discuss the Better Care Fund, the Lancashire Drug and Alcohol Partnership, and the issue of sports stadia sponsorship by vaping companies. The Board agreed to endorse a proposed system-wide review of the Better Care Fund and to participate in this review. They also endorsed the 2024/25 plan for the Lancashire Drug and Alcohol Partnership and discussed work to mitigate vaping sponsorship in sport stadia.

Better Care Fund Review

The Board endorsed the proposed system-wide review of the Better Care Fund (BCF) by Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB). This review aims to maximise joint funding across the ICB and local authorities. The Board also agreed to participate in the review as appropriate and to receive the resulting reviews and associated action plans at future joint meetings with Lancashire Place Partnership. A key request was made for the review to consider the lived experience of Lancashire's residents to influence future plans and identify how more preventative programmes of work can be implemented, with a specific focus on children and young people. The urgency of this item was noted due to funding having only recently been agreed by the ICB, requiring expedited work before the May 2024 meeting to inform future planning.

Lancashire Drug and Alcohol Partnership

The Board received and discussed the progress made by the Combating Drugs and Alcohol Partnership in achieving the outcomes of the Government's 10-year drug strategy, 'From Harm to Hope'. They endorsed the proposed 2024/25 plan, which aims to make further progress in addressing the harms caused by drugs and alcohol in Lancashire. The partnership, which has been in existence for eighteen months, has focused on reducing drug and alcohol-related deaths and reoffending, and increasing engagement with treatment and recovery. The plan for the next year will focus on prevention, addressing gaps in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention, and providing enhanced support for those in treatment. The Board heard from representatives of Inspire/Change Grow Live and We Are With You, who shared case studies demonstrating the positive impact of their work, including a reduction in hospital and GP presentations and an increase in women accessing support.

Sports Stadia Sponsorship by Vaping Companies

The Board discussed findings and work to mitigate vaping sponsorship in sport stadia. It was noted that there is limited sponsorship by vaping companies in sports stadia. Where sponsorship does exist, companies are undertaking mitigating actions to ensure products are not endorsed by children. The Board acknowledged that some stadia have gambling sponsorship and that Public Health will continue to work on developing positive health messages with stadia, in line with the Healthy Stadia Concept. The discussion highlighted the influence of sportspeople as role models and the need for further educational initiatives around vaping. The Board requested that the Public Health team continue to address concerns around gambling, alcohol, vaping, and fast food through liaison with agencies such as the English Football League.

Health and Wellbeing Board Revised Terms of Reference

The Board agreed to several amendments to its Terms of Reference. These included adding a representative from Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise, and allowing for nominated representatives for The Leader of the Council and The Chair of Healthwatch . The title of the Executive Director of Adult Services and Health and Wellbeing was also amended due to a reconfiguration within the Council.

Appointment of Deputy Chair

The Board noted the appointment of Asim Patel from the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board as Deputy Chair for the remainder of the municipal year 2023/2024.

Minutes of the Last Meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 November 2023 were agreed. A brief overview of the outcomes from a joint workshop between the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Lancashire Place Partnership was also provided, highlighting areas of joint interest such as the Better Care Fund and hospital discharge. A draft schedule of informal joint workshops to discuss the Better Care Fund was also agreed.