The Isles of Scilly Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to meet to discuss a new sexual health strategy, revisions to the board's terms of reference, and the Better Care Fund. The board was also expected to appoint a vice-chairman for the year.

Sexual Health Strategy

The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to consider a new ten-year sexual and reproductive health strategy for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The Public Health team prepared a report that recommended that board members endorse the strategy and support its implementation across both regions.

The report stated that Public Health has a statutory duty to provide all-age sexual and reproductive health services across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The strategy was developed to inform the recommissioning of local services and other support available, such as HIV treatment. It was informed by extensive engagement and health needs assessments.

The report noted that the strategy is a priority because the areas face challenges such as a rise in teenage conceptions and an increasing number of people testing positive for a sexually transmitted infection (STI). The strategy proposes solutions for responding to these challenges and ensuring local people have the knowledge and skills needed for healthy relationships.

The strategy aims to deliver several benefits, including:

• Carbon reduction through maximising technology and online digital services.
• Increased access to sexual and reproductive health services.
• Improved collaboration to reduce the consequences of unintended pregnancies and STI transmission.
• Improved HIV diagnoses and reduction in late diagnoses.
• Specific focus on meeting the needs of communities who have poorer sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

The report detailed that over the past year, the strategy was developed through engagement with local communities and stakeholders, as well as needs assessments on HIV and sexual and reproductive health. Public Health engaged with 788 residents to understand their views and experiences, including those experiencing health inequalities. Key themes for improvement included increasing awareness of available services, improving accessibility, and enhancing the experience of sexual and reproductive health education.

Two health needs assessments for sexual and reproductive health in 2024 and 2025 led to recommendations to:

• Assess the current local population's sexual and reproductive health needs.
• Expand and improve online services.
• Improve sexual and reproductive health prevention.
• Ensure people receive the right education, advice, and support.
• Improve the effectiveness of health communication.

Formal public consultation on the draft strategy in 2025 involved 73 people and organisations across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The draft strategy included in the report pack notes that:

Good sexual and reproductive health allows individuals to have satisfying and safe sexual experiences, free from coercion, discrimination, and violence. This positively impacts mental health and social relationships. Access to sexual and reproductive health services is a fundamental human right. It empowers individuals, particularly women and girls, to make informed choices about their bodies and lives. This promotes gender equality and helps reduce gender-based violence.

The strategy outlines three overarching strategic objectives:

1. Embed prevention and sexual and reproductive health education and promotion across services to support choice and safer sexual practices.
2. Provide flexible, accessible, and integrated services, supported by the best data and technology, to ensure people are safe and reduce rates of STIs, the number of late HIV diagnoses, and unintended pregnancies.
3. Support and develop an exceptional and sustainable workforce who deliver personalised care for all local people and reduce sexual and reproductive health inequalities, including gender inequalities.

The strategy also identifies four overarching priorities for improvement: prevention, access, integration, and inclusion.

Terms of Reference

The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to discuss revisions to its Terms of Reference (TOR). Lia Musto-Shinton, Monitoring Officer, prepared a report recommending that members endorse the revised TOR for approval by the Full Council.

The report stated that the Isles of Scilly Health and Wellbeing Board has a Terms of Reference approved by the Full Council on 20 May 2025. Since then, the council has been in liaison with the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) who requested changes to the member representatives from the ICB on the board.

The proposed changes include removing the ICB Non-Executive Director and replacing the ICB Chief Medical Officer with the Medical Director for Neighbourhood Development. An amendment to the TOR was also included to prevent the need for further approvals if the posts at the ICB were to change again, given ongoing structural changes in the NHS.

The ICB believes that the new post of Medical Director for Neighbourhood Development, working jointly with the ICB Place Director for the West of Cornwall, will bring a true appreciation of the needs of islanders and enhance resilience and continuity on the board. They will also be strong advocates for the Isles of Scilly in the new ICB cluster arrangements.

Better Care Fund

The Health and Wellbeing Board was scheduled to discuss the Better Care Fund (BCF) 2025-26 Quarter 1 National Return. Ben Seamarks, Strategic Lead Commissioner for Partnership and Pooled Funds, Cornwall Council, prepared a report that recommended that members ratify the decision to submit the formal Quarter 1 Return to NHS England for 2025-26 for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly's Better Care Fund. The report also recommended that members delegate authority to Russell Ashman, Chief Executive & Section 151 Officer of the Council of the Isles of Scilly, in consultation with the Chief Executive of NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, and the Chief Executive of Cornwall Council, to approve the submission of Better Care Fund quarterly and End-of-Year returns.

The BCF is a national vehicle through which Integrated Care Boards and Local Authorities are required to pool funds to meet policy objectives related to health and social care functions, particularly hospital discharge. Local areas are required to agree a formal Better Care Fund Plan, which is then assured by NHS England.

The report summarised the expenditure relating to the Better Care Fund for Q1 of 2025-26 and provided an indicative position on the three national metrics based on available data:

• Emergency Admissions for people >65 per 100,000 population: Data only ran up to April 2025. Against an April target of 1380.7, CIoS achieved 1433.5 and was therefore not considered to be 'on-track'.
• Discharge Delays: Data was available for April and May. In April, CIoS achieved an indicator of 0.75 against a target of 0.61, and in May achieved 0.60 against a target of 0.58.
• Rate of permanent placements of older adults to residential care per capita: For Q1, Cornwall appeared to be on track to hit the target with an indicator of 122.9 for the quarter.

The report also summarised risk areas associated with the BCF and services funded from within its envelope.

The agreed Better Care Fund Plan for 2025-26 described next steps against each of the four key priorities described in the previous plan for 2023-25. These priorities focus on the delivery of Better Care Fund objectives in Cornwall and include:

1. Intermediate Care Strategy and Delivery Plan
2. Community Equipment and Technology Enabled Care (TEC)
3. Carers
4. Disabled Facilities Grants

The report included financial information for both the Isles of Scilly and Cornwall, detailing planned and actual expenditure for various schemes and services.