The Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board met on Tuesday 10 March 2026 to discuss the NHS Joint Forward Plan, the refresh of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, the Lincolnshire Better Care Fund, and the Director of Public Health's Annual Report on the case for quality employment. The Board noted the requirements for NHS Integrated Care Boards to develop a Joint Forward Plan and acknowledged that the Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire (DLN) ICB Cluster had produced a plan aligned with the Lincolnshire Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. They also noted the refresh of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and agreed to remove the 'Neurological conditions' topic. The Board received an update on the Better Care Fund and noted the Director of Public Health's Annual Report.

NHS Joint Forward Plan

The Board was presented with an overview of the NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board's (ICB) statutory responsibilities in developing a Joint Forward Plan (JFP). Fergus Mack, Associate Director of Planning and Transformation for NHS Lincolnshire ICB, explained that the Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire (DLN) ICB Cluster has produced a 5-Year Population Health Strategy and a 5-Year Strategic Commissioning Plan, which together replace the traditional JFP. These documents align with the Lincolnshire Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JHWS) and the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

Concerns were raised about managing variation in health needs across the large DLN geographical area. Mr Mack explained that planning would occur at cluster, county, and neighbourhood levels, with a focus on leveraging economies of scale at the cluster level and tailoring local delivery to specific population needs. He highlighted the use of proportionate universalism and a neighbourhood health approach as key strategies.

The Board noted the requirements for NHS ICBs to develop a Joint Forward Plan and to give regard to the local Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. They acknowledged that the DLN ICB Cluster had produced a forward plan with regard to the Lincolnshire Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Refresh

Alison Christie, Head of Prevention and System Oversight – Public Health, presented an update on the refresh of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA). The JSNA is a collaborative, evidence-based analysis of current and future health and wellbeing needs in Lincolnshire, organised by life course stages: Start Well, Live Well, and Age Well. Of the 36 topics covered, 29 have been fully reviewed and published online, with six more nearing completion.

The Board noted the improvements to the online JSNA resource, including interactive dashboards and embedded charts. A proposal to remove the 'Neurological conditions' topic due to a lack of reliable data was agreed. A three-year rolling refresh programme was also proposed to ensure the JSNA remains up-to-date.

During the discussion, members praised the JSNA as a valuable resource for informed decision-making and joint working. Concerns were raised about the reported improvement in physical activity levels not aligning with local insight, and a suggestion was made to incorporate more locally specific data, particularly on minority ethnic communities. The Interim Director of Public Health, Professor Trudi Grant, highlighted the significant gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy in Lincolnshire, underscoring the need to focus on the latter and address health inequalities.

The Board resolved to note the refresh of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and agreed to the removal of the 'Neurological conditions' topic.

Lincolnshire Better Care Fund

Martin Samuels, Executive Director – Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, provided an update on the Lincolnshire Better Care Fund (BCF). He explained that national guidance for 2026-27 had been largely rolled forward due to delays in neighbourhood health guidance, and the BCF was expected to be significantly redesigned in 2027-28 to align with neighbourhood health plans, with a focus on intermediate care.

Lincolnshire's BCF is one of the largest in the country due to the inclusion of mental health and learning disability budgets, and the Board will consider whether these allocations should continue. Quarter three reporting for 2025-26 indicated that three out of five BCF metrics had been achieved, with ongoing work in the remaining areas.

The Programme Manager for the BCF, Paul Summers, confirmed that Lincolnshire's performance against BCF metrics was around the midpoint compared to neighbouring areas. Concerns were raised about the three-month lag in data reporting, which was acknowledged as a significant issue given the rapid pace of change in healthcare services. The Board resolved to note the update provided on the Better Care Fund for Quarter 3.

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2025 – The Public Health Case for Quality Employment

Professor Derek Ward, Director of Public Health, presented his final annual report for Lincolnshire, focusing on the critical relationship between employment and health. The report, co-authored with Andy Gutherson, Executive Director of Place, highlights how quality employment is a key determinant of health and wellbeing, while unemployment and poor job conditions can lead to ill health and widen inequalities.

The report detailed Lincolnshire's specific challenges, including its rural and coastal geography, ageing population, and high levels of long-term health conditions, which impact employment opportunities. It estimated the annual cost of worklessness in Lincolnshire at approximately £1.8 billion, with a potential societal benefit of £3.76 billion if these issues were addressed. The report advocates for a whole-system approach to prevention, early intervention, and support for individuals to enter and retain employment.

During the discussion, members thanked Professor Ward for his significant contributions to Lincolnshire and wished him well in his new role. The Board noted the Director of Public Health's Annual Report for 2025.

The meeting concluded with the noting of the action log of previous decisions and the forward plan for the Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board.