The Kingston Partnership Board was scheduled to discuss the Director of Public Health's annual report, and the Better Care Fund year end report. There was also scheduled to be a verbal update on the work of the board.

Better Care Fund Year End Report

The board was asked to approve the Better Care Fund (BCF) Year End report 24/25. The BCF is a national programme intended to support local systems to integrate health and social care, providing person-centred care and better outcomes for people and carers.

The national BCF programme for 2023-25 had two key objectives:

• enable people to stay well, safe and independent at home for longer
• provide people with the right care, at the right place, at the right time

The Kingston Partnership Board approved the local Better Care Plan 24/25 in June 2024, outlining how health and care partners would work together to deliver the national policy framework in Kingston.

The year end document reports on the delivery of the plan, performance against national metrics, the demand and capacity plan, spend, and system successes and challenges. Key points in the report included:

• A Section 75 agreement¹ for 24/25 was still being signed off, with delays in ICB governance around a non-BCF schedule.
• Targets had not been met due to discrepancies with datasets nationally and locally, an issue recognised by NHS data teams.
• All funds had been spent as anticipated, with a small underspend in the Disabilities Facilities Grant being rolled over into 25/26.
• Collaboration and partnership working were highlighted as key strengths, with examples around the UEC Delivery Board and the establishment of the co-located OT Assessment Hub in New Malden. Access to consistent data and increasing care market costs were noted as challenges.

Annual Director of Public Health Report

The board was scheduled to be presented with the Annual Director of Public Health Report 2024/25 - Healthy Hearts in Kingston. Publishing an annual report by the Director of Public Health is a legal requirement. The report was scheduled to be published online on Kingston Data.

The report was expected to focus on reducing health inequalities, as heart health problems are more common among people living in the most deprived areas of Kingston. Early heart health-related deaths are the main cause of the five year life expectancy gap between men in the most and least deprived parts of the borough, and the second largest cause for women.

The report sets out recommendations covering ways to keep the heart healthy, create a supportive environment for good heart health, detect risks to heart health, and encourage more people to learn CPR. Many recommendations align with the goals set out in the new Kingston Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2028. The report also mentions the pan-London Million Hearts and Minds campaign.

Verbal Update on the Work of the Board

The board was scheduled to receive a verbal update on how it is working together to deliver the partnership goals for Kingston residents.

Other items

There was also an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions.