Here is a summary of the scheduled discussions for the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on 18 September 2025.

The agenda for the meeting included a pharmaceutical needs assessment, an update on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, a Buckinghamshire Executive Partnership report, and updates from both Healthwatch Bucks and the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB).

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Update

The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to discuss and approve Buckinghamshire's Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) for 2025-2028.

Since 1 April 2015, every Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) in England has had a statutory responsibility to publish and keep up-to-date a statement of the needs for pharmaceutical services for the population in its area, referred to as a 'pharmaceutical needs assessment' (PNA).

The PNA is a statutory document that the NHS uses to inform its commissioning of local NHS pharmacy services and when taking decisions on applications for market entry of new pharmacies.

The report pack stated that Buckinghamshire is well served in relation to the number and location of pharmacies. The steering group concluded that there are no gaps in current and future access to Necessary, Advanced and Other NHS Pharmaceutical Services for the residents of Buckinghamshire, and no needs for improvements or better access were identified.

The report pack also noted that this conclusion includes a review of the expected new housing growth in Buckinghamshire over the next 3 years. As detailed in the PNA document (appendix 1), the approximately 10,000 new homes expected to be built during the lifetime of the PNA will be within reach of an existing community pharmacy. Therefore, future housing will be assessed during the new PNA review timeframe.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy Update: Principles

The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to receive an update on the action plan relating to the principles of the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The report pack stated that the board was to discuss how integrated neighbourhood working can best be developed in Buckinghamshire.

The core principles for integrated neighbourhood working are:

• Working with our communities
• Joining up care
• Evidence Led
• Equity focused

The report pack stated that Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INT) are professionals from health, the council, the voluntary and community sector that work within a specific geographic area to provide coordinated and preventative care, to address the needs of the population and improve health and wellbeing.

The report pack also stated that in Buckinghamshire the INTs align to Primary Care Network Boundaries, and that each proposed INT includes between 1 and 3 PCNs.

Buckinghamshire Executive Partnership Report

The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to receive an update from the Buckinghamshire Executive Partnership (BEP) on its key areas of focus: Joining Up Care, Integrated Neighbourhood Teams, and Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The BEP was also scheduled to discuss the development of the Place Based Partnership, and the 10 Year Health Plan, and the report pack stated that it was agreed that greater focus on Estates and Digital infrastructure is needed as part of delivering the 10 Year Health Plan.

Healthwatch Bucks Update

The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to receive a quarterly update from Healthwatch Bucks. The report pack included a summary of recent project work undertaken by Healthwatch Bucks in relation to health and social care services, as aligned with the priorities of the Joint Health & Wellbeing strategy.

The update included key findings and recommendations from a project undertaken by Healthwatch Bucks to find out about men's health in Buckinghamshire.

Key recommendations from the report included:

• More targeted publicity about the importance of checks and screening.
• Provide links to online mental health information.
• Support more local groups designed for men to improve physical health and mental wellbeing.
• Increase the promotion of suitable exercise and healthy eating opportunities to those with long-term health conditions in community and educational settings.
• Continue to promote free or subsidised exercise and sports opportunities.
• Deliver health services at times and places suited to the needs of men.

Integrated Care Board Update

The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to receive an update from the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire & Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB).

The update included:

• A summary of the most recent BOB ICB Board meeting.
• An update on the development of the Thames Valley Integrated Care Board (ICB).
• An update on the resident doctors industrial action.
• An update on the community equipment provider change.
• Details of the winter vaccines campaign.
• Details of the BOB ICB Health Inequalities investment in Buckinghamshire in 2025/26.

The report pack stated that the BOB ICB is preparing for the winter flu season by promoting early protection among colleagues, health and care partners, residents and patients.

The report pack also stated that the BOB ICB Health Inequalities investment is focussed on Buckinghamshire's most deprived communities, aligned with the Opportunities Bucks Programme and enabled through Integrated Neighbourhood Teams as part of the Buckinghamshire Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Through this funding the BOB ICB will:

• Deliver a Community Health and Wellbeing Worker Pilot in two hyper local areas with the highest need across Aylesbury and Wycombe.
• Continue to strengthen the integrated community and workforce development programme.