The Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board met on Tuesday 20 January 2026 to discuss the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board's NHS Medium Term Planning and 5 Year Strategic Commissioning Plan. The Board also received an update on the development of Neighbourhood Health Plans in Lancashire and the County Council's emerging prevention strategy.

Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board NHS Medium Term Planning and 5 Year Strategic Commissioning Plan

The Board received an update on the development of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board's (ICB) 5 Year Strategic Commissioning Plan and its proposed Commissioning Intentions for 2026-27. The plan is guided by population health needs assessments, clinical strategy including the neighbourhood model, and delivery plans for provider trusts and neighbourhood health plans. The ICB's intentions are framed by the NHS 10 Year Plan, focusing on three key shifts: hospital to community, sickness to prevention, and analogue to digital. Specific priorities for 2026-27 include improving the management of long-term conditions in the community, enhancing palliative and end-of-life care, and developing a neighbourhood health model that focuses on intermediate care and frailty. The plan also outlines immediate actions and development areas for each of these shifts, including mobilising community pathways, transforming outpatient services, and expanding the use of digital technologies. The Board was asked to receive this update and consider how it can contribute to the development of the plan, with the ICB agreeing to continue attending Board meetings to provide progress reports and share drafts of strategies.

Neighbourhood Health Plans in Lancashire

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Public Health, Wellbeing and Communities, Lancashire County Council, presented information on the development of Neighbourhood Health Plans in Lancashire. This initiative is part of the Government's 10-year health strategy, aiming to shift focus towards prevention and community-based care, supported by technology. A Neighbourhood Health Plan Working Group has been established, and the Board is expected to sign off the plan and provide strategic leadership for its delivery from 2026/27. The discussion highlighted the importance of addressing factors such as life expectancy, deprivation, housing, and income. Lancashire is a Wave 1 pilot site for neighbourhood health, with ongoing work in Morecambe Bay and Chorley/South Ribble. The Board endorsed the arrangements for developing a local neighbourhood health plan, which will include consensus on neighbourhood definitions, priority outcomes, scope of services, governance, and engagement with local stakeholders.

Developing a Prevention Strategy for Lancashire

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi also outlined the County Council's emerging prevention strategy. This strategy has been developed in response to Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements and the need to address avoidable demand to ensure financial sustainability. The strategy is seen as a first step towards a joined-up prevention plan, which will integrate with the neighbourhood working initiatives. The work is in its early stages and will progress through three phases: identifying the County Council's commitments and budget implications, embedding prevention within internal operations, and finally, developing a multi-organisation, system-wide prevention strategy. The Board noted the approach and next steps for developing the strategy and agreed to engage in its further development.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment

Under urgent business, County Councillor Daniel Matchett, Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, provided an update on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2025 for Lancashire. Health and Wellbeing Boards have a statutory duty to publish a PNA every three years. The assessment describes current pharmaceutical provision, health needs that can be addressed by pharmaceutical services, and future population changes, informing decisions on market entry. The pan-Lancashire PNA 2025 has been published, covering the areas of Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, and Lancashire County Council. The Board was assured that the PNA Steering Group would continue to review pharmacy provision every six months until the next assessment cycle in 2028.