The Gloucestershire Health and Wellbeing Partnership is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 27 January 2026. The meeting's agenda includes updates on key health initiatives, including a focus on blood pressure management, tobacco dependency reduction, and employment support programmes.

Blood Pressure Exemplar Theme

A significant portion of the meeting is expected to be dedicated to an update on the Blood Pressure Exemplar Theme, which is one of three key areas within the Gloucestershire Integrated Care Strategy. The ambition for this theme is to enhance the prevention and early identification of high blood pressure, and to support individuals diagnosed with the condition in managing it effectively. The report pack outlines a multi-pronged approach, informed by population health management (PHM) data, to address hypertension. National ambitions, published in 2019, aim for 80% of people with high blood pressure to be diagnosed and 80% of those diagnosed to be treated to target by 2029. Current performance figures indicate that 69% of expected cases are diagnosed, with a further 17,500 people needing to be identified to reach the 80% target. Similarly, 65.7% of diagnosed individuals are currently treated to target, requiring an additional 15,800 people to meet the goal.

The update will likely cover various projects and partnerships aimed at achieving these targets. This includes initiatives like the TRY Project, a community-led pilot intervention in the Forest of Dean designed to prevent, detect, and manage hypertension, particularly targeting working-age men. This project involves embedding blood pressure checks within local rugby clubs and training volunteers as Heart Health Champions. Other partnerships mentioned include those with organisations such as Fair Shares, Freedom Leisure, Gloucester Rugby Foundation, and the Forest Voluntary Action Forum. The report also details insights gathered from community projects, such as work with The Cavern community, highlighting a lack of understanding about blood pressure, anxiety around testing, and management difficulties faced by individuals. Furthermore, the Get Salt Smart social marketing campaign, which ran from September to December 2025, aimed to raise awareness of the link between salt intake and blood pressure.

Tobacco Dependency Strategic Overview

The meeting will also feature a presentation on the Tobacco Dependency Strategic Overview, focusing on the South-West Regional Tobacco Control Strategy and Pledge. The vision for the South West is to become smokefree by 2030, reducing smoking prevalence to below 5%. This initiative aims to reduce health inequalities, save lives, and improve overall wellbeing through a collaborative, evidence-based, and locality-led approach. Key priorities include preventing uptake, reducing illicit tobacco supply, minimising exposure to second-hand smoke, and supporting smokers to quit through evidence-based treatments. The South West Smoke-free 2030 Charter is a commitment by senior health leaders to take coordinated strategic action. Locally, Gloucestershire's Tobacco Control Steering Group is broadening its approach to become a system-wide tobacco control alliance, with work underway to develop a local vision and objectives. Insights research conducted in 2025 with cohorts such as the Polish community, the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with substance misuse challenges has informed the development of a commissioned Tobacco Dependency Outreach Service.

Employment Update and 'Connect to Work' Programme

An update on the employment exemplar theme and the 'Connect to Work' Programme is also scheduled. The Gloucestershire Employment and Skills Hub provides a single point of access for residents seeking advice, guidance, and support to move into or return to employment, education, or training. The 'Connect to Work' programme, funded until March 2030, aims to support approximately 3,000 participants, with at least half retaining or securing new employment. This 12-month programme follows an evidence-based supported employment model, including participant engagement, vocational profiling, employer engagement, job matching, and in-work support. The update will likely cover performance data from December 2025, detailing referrals, programme starts, and job outcomes. The report also highlights the LEAH Project, which works across the system to improve health outcomes through employment, and includes case studies illustrating the impact of these programmes on individuals, including care leavers and young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

Other Agenda Items

The meeting will also include a Chair's Update regarding the Vice Chair position, an update on the clustering arrangements between NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB, and the opportunity for public and member questions. The minutes from the previous meeting on 23 September 2025 will also be confirmed.