The Health & Wellbeing Board meeting on 17 April 2024, confirmed as held, focused on reviewing annual reports, endorsing strategies, and discussing progress on key health and wellbeing initiatives. Key decisions included noting the Healthwatch Croydon Annual Report, approving the refreshed Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and noting the Health and Wellbeing Board's own annual report.

South West London Integrated Care Board

The Board discussed the effectiveness of the South West London Integrated Care Board (ICB) in implementing the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing (JLHW) strategy. Members stressed the need for the ICB to support Croydon's specific strategy while integrating other boroughs' approaches at a sub-regional level. It was emphasised that hyperlocal preventative responses must be reflected and that local people should be involved in co-production. The importance of ensuring all relevant partners were involved in the joint strategic needs assessment was also highlighted.

Healthwatch Croydon Annual Report 2022-23

The Health and Wellbeing Board reviewed the Healthwatch Croydon Annual Report 2022-23, which detailed the organisation's work from April 2022 to March 2023 and outlined its priorities for 2023-24. Edwina Morris, Chair of Healthwatch Croydon, and Gordon Kay, Healthwatch Croydon Manager, presented the report. Key areas of work included informing Urgent and Emergency Care Transformation, improving access for non-English speakers, supporting better GP websites, providing insight for a new dementia strategy, assessing patient experience of the MyCare patient portal, raising awareness of asylum seekers' experiences, providing insight for the London Ambulance Service's strategy, addressing young people's mental health, and ensuring communities were heard in regional decisions. The Board welcomed the report and acknowledged the importance of collaboration between the Council and Healthwatch Croydon. The Board resolved to note the annual report.

Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Report

The Board reviewed its own Annual Report for 2022-23, which summarised its activities and outlined priorities for 2024. The report detailed the Board's statutory duties and functions, as well as the strategic priorities set out in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Councillor Yvette Hopley, Chair of the Board, praised the work undertaken and thanked those involved. Jack Bedeman, Consultant in Public Health, clarified that future reports should be more explicit about the contributions of voluntary community organisations and that more structured engagement with these organisations could be beneficial. The Board resolved to note the report and to report the outcome of its monitoring of the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy delivery plans to Full Council as part of its annual report.

Croydon Health and Wellbeing Survey for School-Age Children and Young People (2022/23)

A report summarising the findings of the Croydon Health and Wellbeing Survey for School-Age Children and Young People (2022/23) was reviewed. This was the first of six such surveys to be conducted biennially, aiming to understand the mental health and wellbeing of young people in Croydon and identify trends. The survey was funded by the Contain Outbreak Management Fund. Ahimza Nagasivam, Consultant in Public Health, and Claire Mundle, Principal in Public Health, presented the findings. Key actions arising from the survey included establishing a professional well-being forum and organising a dedicated well-being day. The Board acknowledged the importance of engaging with young people and the value of future surveys for data comparison. Board members expressed their willingness to support future work and highlighted the need to keep relevant parties informed. A suggestion was made to review and rephrase illness-related questions to 'disability and long-term health conditions' and add a question about the type of disability, which officers agreed to consider. The Board resolved to note the full report of the survey results and discuss priority areas for action and opportunities to share the report. They also endorsed the approach being taken.

Croydon Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy Refresh: progress update and next steps

The Board reviewed reports on the refresh of the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JLHWS), summarising consultation feedback, presenting the final draft strategy for approval, and outlining next steps for implementation. Jack Bedeman, Consultant in Public Health, and Shifa Sarica, Principal in Public Health, provided an overview. They acknowledged the engagement of various stakeholders in developing the strategy, which involved a six-week consultation period with an online survey and personal engagement sessions. The strategy's delivery between 2024 and 2029 will focus on five strategic priorities, with an emphasis on partnership and co-production. The Board resolved to note the consultation insights, approve the final JLHWS, and agree on the next steps for its delivery.

Health and Wellbeing Board - Forward Plan

Jack Bedeman, Consultant in Public Health, provided a verbal update on the Board's Forward Plan. It was recognised that the plan should be presented regularly. Items scheduled for the next meeting included the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Work Plan, Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, Director of Public Health Annual Report, Integrated Care System Report, and a Peer Review Challenge. Board members were reminded that they could suggest items for future plans. A workshop session for the Health and Wellbeing Board in September was also suggested. The Board resolved to receive the verbal update and discuss the Forward Plan.

Better Care Fund 2023/24 Quarter 3 Report

The Board reviewed the Better Care Fund (BCF) Quarter 3 Submission for 2023-24. Daniele Serdoz, Acting Deputy Director of Primary and Community Care Transformation – Croydon, explained that progress updates are provided quarterly and confirmed that Croydon was on track to spend the allocated funds. The integration of the Frontrunner programme with BCF work was discussed, with the Frontrunner programme being a significant component of the BCF. The Chair suggested that the Board would benefit from learning more about the impact generated by the BCF and the Frontrunner programme. The Board resolved to sign off the Better Care Fund Quarter 3 Submission for 23-24 for Croydon to NHS England.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

It was not necessary to exclude the press and public from any portion of this meeting.