The Health and Wellbeing Board met on Wednesday 21 January 2026 to discuss several key reports and updates. Decisions were made regarding the Better Care Fund Quarter 2 report, the Family Hubs Annual Report, the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, and the Healthwatch Annual Report.

Better Care Fund Quarter 2 Report 2025/26

The Board ratified the Better Care Fund (BCF) Quarter 2 report for 2025-2026. Sarah Bright, Director of People's Commissioning, Transformation and Partnerships, provided an overview, with Susan Roostan, H&F ICB Borough Director, confirming that the Quarter 3 report was in preparation. A discussion arose regarding an overspend in Community Equipment funding, which Sarah Bright explained was due to the collapse of a provider appointed by a consortium of 21 local authorities, including Hammersmith and Fulham. Alternative arrangements were immediately put in place, incurring additional costs, but a new provider had been contracted, and further improvements were anticipated. Councillor Alex Sanderson thanked the team for their efforts in navigating this challenging situation. Diane Barham from Healthwatch suggested assessing user experience, particularly for specific cohorts, regarding discharge and community equipment to identify any inequalities, a suggestion Sarah Bright agreed to pursue.

Family Hubs Annual Report 2024/25

Philip Tomsett, Head of Family Hubs, presented the annual report on the borough's three Family Hubs, located in areas of high deprivation. He highlighted that the hubs aim to be a single point of access for families needing comprehensive support, including parenting advice, cost of living assistance, and access to partnered service providers. The report indicated high demand for the service, with navigators receiving numerous requests and referrals. An award-winning online offer for families was also noted, and feedback from surveys showed positive outcomes from interventions. Dr James Cavanagh, H&F GP, inquired about how organisations providing services within the hubs could be more involved in the evolution of the neighbourhood approach. Philip Tomsett explained their involvement in various working groups, including the place-based aspect of the neighbourhood health offer, and their collaboration with local GPs. Councillor Alex Sanderson welcomed the report, noting the integration of health and voluntary sector partnerships. Councillor Natalia Perez expressed concern about potential under-representation of digitally excluded groups and asked about steps to increase their awareness. Philip Tomsett outlined plans for targeted outreach programmes and emphasised that face-to-face contact and outreach activities were primary, with online services being an additional resource. Jacqui McShannon, Executive Director of People's Services, commended the team for seeking alternative communication routes beyond traditional tenant and resident associations. The Chair suggested promoting the wider scope of the Family Hubs to individuals beyond those with children. The Board noted the report.

H&F Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2026-29

Dr Mayada Abu Affan, Interim Director of Public Health, introduced the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2026-29, explaining the statutory requirement for Health and Wellbeing Boards to publish and update such assessments every three years. The PNA aims to assist decisions regarding community pharmacies and their role in prevention, reducing demand on primary and urgent care, and managing risks related to equitable access. Susan Hughes, Programme Lead for Public Health, presented the findings, noting that while a recent survey raised concerns about opening hours, stock availability, and prescription readiness communication, the overall assessment indicated that Hammersmith and Fulham is well-served by pharmacies. There are no current or anticipated gaps in the provision of necessary and other relevant pharmaceutical services during the 2026-2029 period. Sue Spiller, CEO of SOBUS, raised concerns about the uptake of pharmaceutical services by residents, and Susan Hughes acknowledged that information dissemination could be improved, particularly regarding the Pharmacy First service. Dr Mayada Abu Affan clarified that NHS England, as the commissioner of pharmaceutical services, holds data on service uptake, and the Council's data is limited to public health services commissioned from pharmacies. Dr James Cavanagh, H&F GP, highlighted the importance of mapping pharmacists within Primary Care Networks (PCNs) to understand service gaps and sought details on home delivery services and prescribing pharmacists. Dr Mayada Abu Affan considered these points important and suggested they could be addressed in parallel with the PNA. The Chair noted the evolving role of pharmacies and the potential need for a PNA update within three years. The Board approved the PNA for publication and delegated authority to the PNA Steering Group to determine future changes requiring supplementary statements or new PNAs.

Healthwatch Annual Report 2024/25

Sarah Bright, Director of People's Commissioning, Transformation and Partnerships, presented the 2024/25 annual report from Healthwatch Hammersmith and Fulham. She noted that Local Voice in the Community had taken over the Healthwatch provider role since September 2025. The report detailed engagement activities, key issues identified, and recommendations made. It also looked ahead to opportunities for deeper collaboration with Healthwatch and health partners to align priorities, share insights, and embed co-production to inform decision-making and drive improvements. Caroline Farrar, HCP Managing Director, highlighted that the new Healthwatch provider had identified three ongoing priorities for 2026: Childhood Immunisations, Maternal Mental Health & Maternity Outcomes, and GP Access. Diane Barham, Healthwatch, added that they were seeking new insights from a broader pool of information to approach issues differently. The Board noted the report.

Verbal Update on ICB

Sue Roostan, H&F ICB Borough Director, provided an update on the upcoming merger of the Northwest London ICB and North Central London ICB into the West and North London ICB from April 1st. This merger will result in a 50% reduction in staff, while the new ICB will expand its strategic commissioning role. Discussions regarding the transfer of statutory functions to the new structure were ongoing. Sue Roostan emphasised efforts to ensure a seamless transformation, with business as usual maintained, but acknowledged changes in service delivery as the new ICB takes up its role. She committed to keeping the Partnership and the Board updated. Dr James Cavanagh expressed concerns about the fundamental changes, contrasting the current contract-led system with the new strategic commissioner model, and questioning the new ICB's capacity to understand local needs across 13 boroughs. Caroline Farrar recalled the previous discussion on the 10-Year Health Plan and acknowledged the known unknowns but was confident in meeting outcome-based contracts. She suggested inviting an ICB executive to a future meeting to discuss changes. Councillor Alex Sanderson welcomed this, suggesting it could become a standing item for the Board. The Board noted the verbal update.