The Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board met to review governance arrangements and approve a pharmaceutical needs assessment. Councillor S W Clegg, Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Public Health, was appointed chair, and Claire Raybold from NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) was appointed vice-chair. The board reaffirmed its terms of reference and approved associate membership for 2025-2026 and approved the final Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment for 2025.

Here's a more detailed look at the key discussion points:

Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board Terms of Reference

The board endorsed its terms of reference and governance documents, attached as Appendix A, and approved associate membership for 2025-2026, as detailed in the report.

Alison Christie, Head of Prevention and System Oversight, presented the report, explaining that the Health and Wellbeing Board has existed in Lincolnshire since 2013, and its primary functions are to prepare and publish a joint strategic needs assessment¹ (JSNA) and a joint health and well-being strategy. The legal minimum membership includes at least one elected councillor, a representative from the Integrated Care Board, the directors of children's services, adult care, and public health, and a representative from the local Health Watch organisation. The board also has the provision to invite associate members who do not have voting rights.

The terms of reference are reviewed annually, and the updated details in Section 1.5 reflect the change of elected representation following the county council elections in May.

Councillor Robert Antony Gibson, DEPUTY LEADER OF THE COUNCIL, proposed the motion, and Karen Dunderdale seconded it.

Lincolnshire Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025

The board approved the final Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) for 2025, prior to its publication on 1 July 2025. The PNA is a statutory duty for Health and Wellbeing Boards to undertake at least every three years.

Professor Derek Ward, Director of Public Health, introduced the item before handing over to Tony McGinty, a public health consultant, to present the report of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Steering Group.

The PNA is a technical document detailing the provision of pharmaceutical services at a snapshot in time and is not a commissioning document but may be used in conjunction with other relevant documents, such as the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Lincolnshire, to determine provision and inform the commissioning of pharmaceutical services in Lincolnshire.

The PNA is required to measure the adequacy of pharmaceutical services in the HWB area under five key themes:

• Necessary services: current provision
• Necessary services: gaps in provision
• Other relevant services: current provision
• Improvements and better access: gaps in provision
• Other NHS services

The PNA concludes that residents in Lincolnshire are adequately served, with no current or future gaps identified in the provision of necessary and other relevant services.

Lincolnshire Better Care Fund Update

Martin Samuels, Executive Director - Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, introduced a report which set out the Quarter 2 update for the Better Care Fund (BCF). The Better Care Fund is a national programme with a prescribed policy and planning framework. The BCF planning guidance for 2023-25 (for two years) was submitted and approved by National Partners in September 2023.

The Programme Manager – Better Care Fund guided the Board through the report and summarised the update on the BCF review. It was noted that work had continued focusing on the areas of LD placements and Intermediate Care, as discussed at the previous meeting.

The board noted the update on the BCF Review.

Chairman's Announcements

Councillor S W Clegg, Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Public Health, acknowledged John Turner's contributions and welcomed Claire Raybold, Interim CEO Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board, as a member of the Health and Wellbeing Board and the ICP.

The board also noted announcements regarding the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Rolling Review Programme and the government's call for evidence on men's health.