The Health and Wellbeing Board met on Tuesday 19 May 2026 to discuss progress on the Best Start in Life strategic plan and the expansion of Family Hubs, alongside updates on Neighbourhood Health initiatives and the Integrated Care Strategy. Key decisions included noting the progress made in these areas and endorsing the strategic approach to improving early years outcomes and community-based health services.

Best Start in Life Plan Update

The Board received an update on Worcestershire's Best Start in Life Strategic Plan and the expansion of Best Start Family Hubs. This national strategy, launched in July 2025, aims to improve outcomes for children from pregnancy to age five, with a target of 75% of children achieving a Good Level of Development (GLD) by the time they start school. Worcestershire has set its own target of 76.6% for all children and 52.9% for disadvantaged children by 2028. While overall GLD figures are in line with the national average, there is a widening gap for disadvantaged pupils, which is a key focus for targeted work.

The strategy is divided into two core areas: maternal and perinatal health, and child development. This includes strengthening preconception support, antenatal education, and addressing issues such as maternal obesity and smoking in pregnancy. The child development aspect involves a wider focus on early years settings, schools, and family hubs, promoting a whole-system approach to school readiness.

Worcestershire currently has ten core Family Hub locations, with additional pop-up and outreach sites to ensure accessibility. These hubs act as a community front door for a range of services, including health visitor appointments, speech and language support, and baby groups. The national guidance for Family Hubs has expanded to 29 core elements, and Worcestershire is working to align its services with these expectations. Expansion plans include increasing locations, the range of services offered, and a specific focus on inclusion and SEND support through new Best Start Inclusion Practitioner roles. Footfall in Family Hubs has increased by approximately 25% in the last year, with over 50,500 contacts recorded.

Neighbourhood Health in Worcestershire

The Board received an update on the development of Neighbourhood Health arrangements in Worcestershire. The national Neighbourhood Health Framework aims to shift health and care delivery closer to home by organising services around defined neighbourhood populations, with a focus on prevention, proactive care, and integrated teams for those with complex needs. Worcestershire is well-positioned to respond to this framework due to existing partnership working, particularly through Primary Care Networks (PCNs). The national framework outlines five minimum goals, including improving health outcomes, access to general practice, experience of planned care, urgent and emergency care, and patient and staff satisfaction. Engagement and co-design workshops are planned to understand local data, resident needs, and to organise services more effectively at a neighbourhood level.

Neighbourhood Health Partnerships between Primary Care Networks and Public Health

This report highlighted the collaborative work between Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and the Worcestershire Public Health team, focusing on neighbourhood health. The presentation showcased examples of this partnership, emphasizing that 80% of health outcomes are determined by non-clinical factors such as housing, employment, and education. Public Health provides population intelligence and community development expertise, while PCNs offer patient-level knowledge and trusted relationships.

Data analysis using Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) identified priority neighbourhoods with high rates of non-elective hospital admissions. Detailed neighbourhood profiles were developed to inform integrated approaches to improving health and care outcomes. Examples of this collaboration were presented from across the county, including initiatives in Evesham, Wyre Forest, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Worcester City, Persia, Upton, Malvern Town, and the Rural's PCN. These initiatives ranged from supporting families and children, to addressing chronic pain, falls prevention, and cancer screening. The report also touched upon the Better Care Fund and its alignment with neighbourhood health priorities.

Gambling-Related Harm in Worcestershire

The Board was briefed on the scale and nature of gambling-related harm, which is recognised as a significant public health issue affecting individuals, families, and communities. Approximately 5% of adults are at risk of problem gambling, with higher rates among men and those engaging in online gambling. Gambling-related harm is socially patterned, with higher rates in deprived areas. The report highlighted the coexistence of problem gambling with substance misuse and mental health issues, and the increasing concern regarding young people's exposure to gambling through online platforms and gaming.

Worcestershire has a significant number of gambling permissions, with high-risk premises concentrated in urban areas. A statutory gambling levy has been introduced, which will fund a needs assessment and the development of a strategic network to address gambling-related harm. The focus will be on building intelligence, strengthening leadership and partnerships, prevention, early identification, and creating healthier environments by considering the commercial determinants of gambling. The report stressed that gambling harms exacerbate health disparities and negatively impact mental health and wellbeing.

Integrated Care Strategy Delivery 2025/26

This report provided an overview of the progress made in delivering the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Strategy during 2025/26. The strategy, approved in April 2023, sets out shared system priorities and eight commitments to improve population health and reduce inequalities. The annual reporting function has transitioned to the Health and Wellbeing Boards.

Progress highlights include integrated action on work and health, early intervention for children and young people's mental health, community-led approaches to health inequalities, improvements in urgent and emergency care, and the expansion of preventative and neighbourhood-based care models. Specific achievements mentioned include the extension of the WorkWell service, a new pathway for supporting families with housing and social care needs, and the development of school asthma guidance. The Melo service, an early intervention mental health service for young people, and the Core20PLUS Community Connector Programme have also been highlighted. The report also noted progress in digital accessibility, including the rollout of the Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag and the expansion of the Health Information video library. The strategy's focus on prevention and early intervention was reiterated, with a significant reduction in preventable deaths by over 7% in one year.