The Combined Health and Wellbeing Board and Surrey-Hartland Integrated Care Partnership meeting, held on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, focused on the refresh of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, a new strategy for addressing gambling-related harms, and updates on local government reorganisation and Integrated Care Board (ICB) integration. Key decisions included the endorsement of the refreshed Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the approach to tackling gambling-related harms.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy Refresh

The board discussed the refresh of the Surrey Health and Wellbeing Strategy, aiming to ensure it remains fit for purpose and continues to reduce health inequalities. The updated strategy aligns with national and local priorities, including a renewed focus on neighbourhoods, the Surrey Prevention Framework, and wider determinants of health. Priority populations have been reviewed and expanded to include specific considerations for learning disabilities, autism, ADHD, teenage parents, armed forces personnel, and those experiencing poverty and multiple disadvantage. The strategy also incorporates the importance of health equity in all policies and reflects updated data on areas of deprivation, leading to an increase in identified key neighbourhoods. The refreshed strategy will guide the board's work through the upcoming transition to two new unitary authorities.

Strategy for Addressing Gambling-Related Harms

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the proposed whole-system approach strategy for addressing gambling-related harms in Surrey. The strategy acknowledges gambling as a population health challenge with a significant ripple effect on individuals, families, and communities. A prototype test and scale approach was piloted in Runnymede Borough Council, involving multi-agency collaboration and lived experience input. Key actions include embedding screening into various settings, conducting local surveys, and developing tailored digital campaigns. The strategy also addresses prevention work with universities and schools, and engagement with primary care networks and licensing bodies. The board endorsed the approach and priorities of the strategy, with a commitment to strengthening partnerships and identifying further organisations for engagement.

Local Government Reorganisation and ICB Integration

Updates were provided on the progress of Surrey's local government reorganisation (LGR) and the integration of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). The implementation plan is reportedly ahead of schedule, with joint committees progressing towards the establishment of shadow authorities. Expressions of interest are being submitted for a foundational strategic authority, aiming to retain strategic transport and growth functions at a county-wide level.

In parallel, the Surrey and Sussex ICB is set to formally merge on 1 April 2026, becoming NHS Surrey and Sussex Integrated Care Board. This integration involves a significant reduction in operating expenditure and a leaner organisational structure. While acknowledging the challenges of staff changes, the board committed to maintaining strategic commissioning for health services and continuing work on integrated neighbourhood teams and community-based care. The transition also involves the Thames Valley ICB taking the lead on commissioning for Frimley Park Hospital, with a joint commissioning forum established to manage patient flows.

Other Discussions

The meeting also touched upon the challenges and opportunities related to the upcoming Crisis and Resilience Fund, which will replace the Household Support Fund, and the ongoing devolution of Surrey's Adult Skills Fund. Discussions also highlighted concerns regarding the sustainability of funding for the VCSE (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise) sector, particularly in relation to the Bridge the Gap project and the potential impact of changes on specialist roles. The importance of creating environments that encourage children's physical activity and safety was also a key theme, with discussions on how to address obesity and promote active lifestyles. The board noted the upcoming deep dive into the challenges and opportunities of local government reform and the neighbourhood framework.