The Wandsworth Health and Wellbeing Board met to discuss a range of issues, including the Carers Charter one-year report, an update on the Age Well strategy, the Better Care Fund, and pharmacy application guidance. The board agreed to maintain annual reporting on the Carers Charter, approved a process for responding to changes in pharmaceutical provision, and noted updates on the Age Well strategy and Better Care Fund. Due to a lack of a quorum, some items were only discussed informally.

Pharmacy Application Guidance

The Health and Wellbeing Board agreed to recommendations set out in the Pharmacy Application Guidance report. The board agreed to an approach for responding to changes to pharmaceutical provision as an interested party, and approved the decision-making flowcharts.

Vusi Adeki, the Health and Well-Being Board Programme Manager, highlighted that the board is considered an interested party in pharmaceutical needs assessments, and there had been an increase in applications coming in. The proposed flowchart in the report offered a provisional idea of managing the process, learning from the experiences in Richmond.

Stephen Hickey, of Wandsworth Healthwatch, raised concerns about the volume of proposals and the need for a sifting mechanism to focus on strategic issues rather than routine matters. Shannon Katiyo, the Director of Public Health, assured him that the process was designed to do exactly that, with the chair and director of public health vetting applications before they reach the board.

Councillor George Crivelli suggested that local councillors should be routinely consulted as part of the process.

Wandsworth Carers and Young Carers Charter - One Year Report

The Health and Wellbeing Board agreed to maintain the annual reporting cycle for the Wandsworth Carers and Young Carers Charter, ensuring transparent monitoring and sharing of progress.

Steve Schaffelberg, the senior commissioning manager, introduced the one-year report on the Wandsworth Carers & Young Carers Charter¹, highlighting its co-produced nature and four priorities: working together, health and well-being, young carers, and a life alongside caring responsibilities. He noted the collaboration between the council, the Integrated Care Board (ICB), and the Wandsworth Carers Center.

Councillor George Crivelli praised the initiatives, particularly the support for schools to identify young carers, and asked how to reach unpaid carers who may not recognise themselves as such. Steve Schaffelberg responded that they were moving away from the label of 'unpaid carer', instead asking people if they were providing care for a family member or friend who would not be able to cope without that help.

Shannon Katiyo suggested that issues relating to other work streams in the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy could be shared with the carers' engagement. Marie Niafitu, the Commissioning Officer in Adult Social Care, mentioned professional awareness sessions being undertaken by the Carer Centre.

Kate Slemeck, Managing Director of St George's, noted the work St George's Hospital was doing to identify and support carers, including a carers charter and awareness training sessions for staff.

Councillor Graeme Henderson asked about the AI tool being rolled out and how to ensure digital inclusion for those not digitally savvy. Steve Schaffelberg clarified that the AI platform was not intended to replace face-to-face conversations, but to provide quicker information and signposting.

Councillor Judi Gasser raised the issue of compatibility between different AI applications being used across the council. She also noted that she was missing the carer's voice in the report.

Dr Waqaar Shah, a clinical lead for Wandsworth Place, asked about support for carers facing employment issues. Steve Schaffelberg acknowledged this as a challenge and mentioned the government's carer leave entitlement and the Carers UK Carers in Employment Initiative.

Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy: Age Well Update

The Health and Wellbeing Board noted the delivery outputs as set out in Appendix 1 of the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy: Age Well Update report.

Shannon Katiyo presented the progress update report on Age Well, noting it marked almost a year since the strategy's launch. She also noted an error in Section 4 on falls, which contained an update on adult immunisation.

Falls

Brian Roberts discussed the falls data, highlighting a decrease in falls compared to the previous 12 months. He noted that Wandsworth was below the London average for falls incidents in care homes. He also highlighted the falls prevention classes available in the borough.

Stephen Hickey asked about the main causes of falls and what could be done to solve the problem. Brian Roberts said that working with care homes to reduce falls would significantly reduce the number of falls. Kate Slemeck added that they wanted to continue to reduce conveyance to hospital where that wasn't necessary.

Councillor Graeme Henderson asked how to best work with private care homes to drive down falls numbers. Brian Roberts suggested making community services the first point of call for care homes, as well as allied communication.

Dementia

Hannah Pearson, one of the lead primary and community care delivery managers in the Merton and Wandsworth team at the ICB, provided an update on dementia, highlighting prevention, diagnosis, services and support, carer support and care homes. She noted that Wandsworth was performing well in diagnosis rates, but there was still variation across the borough.

Social Isolation

Paul Banks, commissioning manager in adult social care, presented the social isolation update, focusing on the Age Well step but acknowledging that social isolation cuts across the whole life course. He highlighted the focus on seldom-heard groups, the use of food as a tool to reduce social isolation, and digital inclusion initiatives.

Abi Carter questioned whether social isolation was in the right place being in Age Well, as it affects other groups too. Shannon Katiyo acknowledged this point, explaining that the data they had was from a cohort that sat more within Age Well.

Stephen Hickey noted a statistic in the report that seemed to show a dramatic fall in satisfaction, which Paul Banks clarified was actually the other way around.

Better Care Fund

The board noted the Better Care Fund End of Year Report 2024-25 and the Quarter 1 Update 2025-26.

Brian Roberts presented both reports. He stated that the money was spent to budget, and highlighted the impact of the Better Care Fund, showing the demand of capacity for intermediate care for discharge. He noted that the time to discharge people had reduced.

Stephen Hickey asked if there were any consequences for not meeting targets. Brian Roberts responded that there were no direct consequences, other than support being available nationally.

Mark Creelman said that it was important to ensure that the Better Care Fund and everything else that they were doing across health and social care were completely aligned.

Councillor Graeme Henderson said that the real challenge was using the money as a genuine vehicle to ensure greater integration.

Health and Wellbeing Board Work Programme

Lynn Wild presented the Health and Wellbeing Board Work Programme, highlighting the intention to hold a seminar focusing on learning disability and health inequalities.

Abi Carter added that the seminar would be held at one of their sites, which is based in a garden, and that they would like to invite members of the board and relevant other partners. She requested that attendees provide a picture and explanation of what they do in layman's terms.

Councillor Judi Gasser asked when and where the seminar was.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting was scheduled for 4 December 2025.