The Hounslow Health and Wellbeing Board met on Tuesday 13 January 2026 to discuss updates on key health and wellbeing initiatives, including the Hounslow Care Together programme, the refresh of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and the Better Care Fund. The Board also received progress reports on the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, and an update from Healthwatch Hounslow.

Hounslow Care Together Update

Ben Collins, Programme Director for Integrated Care, provided an update on the Hounslow Care Together (HCT) model of care, which began in September 2025. This initiative involves multidisciplinary teams working with GP practices to deliver proactive, personalised care closer to home, aiming to reduce hospital reliance and enable residents to live well at home for longer. The model is currently being tested at two sites: Maswell Park, supporting Redwood, Willow, and Kingfisher Practices, and Heart of Hounslow, supporting Chestnut, HMC Health, and Hounslow Medical Centre. The development process involved intensive co-production with core and extended teams, GPs, hospital consultants, and other stakeholders. Test teams launched in mid-September 2025, initially focusing on highly frail individuals at risk of avoidable hospital admissions. By mid-December 2025, 56 patients had been enrolled, with staff assessing and implementing care plans. Initial learning from the first two months highlighted challenges in identifying the right patients and fully mobilising teams, but also positive feedback from staff regarding the integrated team working. Metrics for evaluating the model include self-reported health and wellbeing measures, patient and carer experience questionnaires, staff experience questionnaires, and utilisation of health and care services. Workstreams and timescales for developing a business case and spreading the model are also in progress.

Hounslow's Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy Refresh

Ann Phillips, Senior Coordinator for Programmes and Partnerships, presented the progress on refreshing Hounslow's Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which is due for publication in late 2026. The process has involved extensive engagement with key stakeholders and residents, with 767 people participating in surveys and consultations. Key priorities identified include early intervention, mental health support, community fitness, and age-friendly environments. The findings have been categorised under strategic themes such as Start Well, Live Well, Age Well, Healthy Places, and Access to Care. Specific areas of focus include childcare and parenting support, community hubs and green spaces, health and early intervention for children, and SEND and educational support. For young adults and working-age adults, priorities include youth mental health, working-age physical wellbeing, community and digital inclusion, and financial literacy. Older adults' needs are being addressed through social engagement activities, accessible exercise, mobility improvements, and health and end-of-life care. Community environments and infrastructure, including green spaces, biodiversity, active travel, and community safety, are also key considerations. Primary care and NHS services are highlighted as needing improvements in appointment availability and specialist care wait times. The strategy's project timeline outlines phases for drafting, consultation, and approval, with publication anticipated in October 2026.

Better Care Fund Update

Martin Waddington, Director of ICP and Commissioning, provided an update on the Better Care Fund (BCF) for Quarter 2 of 2025/26. The BCF is a national initiative for integrating health and social care, governed by a Section 75 Agreement between the Council and NHS North West London Integrated Care Board (ICB). The Board is responsible for ensuring compliance and strategic direction for the BCF. The report detailed schemes funded by the BCF, including amounts, types of activity, and funding sources. The Board was requested to sign off the Q2 Reporting Template to confirm that the BCF had been spent in accordance with the planning template and Section 75 agreement, and that performance projections were compliant. The BCF aims to drive health and social care integration through pooled budgets, with Hounslow's plan detailing various schemes such as stroke pathway navigators, A&E discharge support, personal care services, and extra care services. The total fund for 2025/26 is approximately £43.8 million. The update also noted savings made in the year due to a reduction in the ICB's additional NHS contribution, signalling a shift towards regional BCF funding. Specific schemes identified for savings included the Stroke Path Navigator and Stroke Reviews, Adult Autism and Assessment, Vulnerable People Activity Coordinator, and Personal Homecare Services. The report also detailed the financial overview for Hounslow Discharge Funding and ICB Discharge Funding, totalling £4.8 million for 2025/26.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy Progress Report – Quarter Two

Sterling Rippy, Principal Public Health Strategist, and Clare Gomm, Senior Public Health Strategist, presented the Health and Wellbeing Strategy Progress Report for Quarter Two (Q2) of 2025/26. The report outlined performance and provided updates on projects aligned with the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-2026. A new governance framework, agreed in March 2024, provides oversight through delegated Senior Responsible Officers (SROs). The presentation highlighted three positive activities: the Start Well project (Maternal health service), work to manage Emergency Department (ED) attendance and admissions with additional primary care appointments, and the successful rollout of a programme for earlier diagnosis of bowel cancer. The Board raised concerns about end-of-life care, which was rated as 'red', and discussed the need for a long-term strategy and preventative work. The Board agreed to revisit this in the New Year. Actions were agreed to review support for the last part of patients' lives and for Kim Ready to provide data on the health status of the older population.

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Update

Kasthuri Raveendran, Insight Lead – Policy, Performance and Strategy, provided a verbal update on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). The report draws on the latest data to provide information about the Borough across various themes, including a thriving, liveable, healthier, greener, cleaner, and safer Hounslow. A demographic shift was noted, with the 20-40 age group now being predominant. The report highlighted that 80% of Hounslow's population has at least one parent born outside the UK. In terms of jobs and the economy, financial security was identified as a major driver, with many residents relying on a combination of work and benefits. A decline in real wages and an increase in the gap between the wealthy and deprived were noted. One in four respondents reported just getting by, and Universal Credit usage remained above pre-pandemic levels. Claims were skewed to the west of the Borough, and Citizens Advice Bureau usage had doubled since 2020. Private renting had more than doubled while ownership had halved, with the private rental affordability ratio now higher than in London. 15% of housing was considered overcrowded, with 84% of these having a parent born outside the UK. Peter Goulding raised concerns about childhood obesity, poor dental access, and the impact of the economic situation on people with learning disabilities, noting that their life chances and general health appeared to be falling behind. The Board agreed to investigate these issues, as well as the deteriorating life chances of the 50-plus age group.

Healthwatch Update

Peter Goulding, Chair of Healthwatch Hounslow, reported on the Quarter 2 Patient Experience Report. The report indicated that 60% of residents found it difficult to get appointments with GPs, and over half experienced difficulties getting through by phone, with long waits. Concerns were raised about the automated system, Patches, with many preferring a personal approach. Of those interviewed, 98% were registered with a GP, but 70% had not seen a GP before attending A&E, reporting difficulty contacting a GP beforehand. Healthwatch is preparing a report on this review, due in November. Work is ongoing to support individuals who prefer not to use the NHS online app. Dr Amit Gupta responded that North West London had an access programme providing digital support, available to anyone needing access, with assistance from trained professionals. Steven Forbes agreed that the NHS digital journey was improving and anticipated further improvements alongside the ageing population.

Any Other Business

There was no other business raised.

Date of Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting was noted as 23 April 2026.