The Health and Wellbeing Board met on Monday 15 June 2026 to discuss the Better Care Fund and the progress of the Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy. The Board approved the Better Care Fund plan for 2026-27 and noted the progress made on the first year of the Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy 2025-2030.

Better Care Fund

The Board approved the Lewisham Better Care Fund Plan for 2026-27, which outlines a pooled funding of £54.5 million. This fund aims to support integrated health and social care services, helping residents to live independently for longer, reduce hospital admissions, and ensure timely hospital discharges. The plan largely builds on existing approaches, continuing to invest in services that support people to receive care at home or closer to home. Key areas of investment include home adaptations, rehabilitation and reablement services following hospital discharge, and support for community and voluntary sector services.

Performance in 2025-26 was strong regarding emergency admissions and long-term admissions to care homes, with targets met in both areas. However, the target for discharge delays was not met, attributed to improved reporting accuracy and a cohort of complex discharge cases. System-wide initiatives are in place to strengthen discharge pathways, which remains a key focus for 2026-27.

Councillor Samantha Gardiner, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, praised the work, noting its alignment with the administration's objectives to help people stay well at home. Discussions also covered strategies to manage hospital discharge delays, including regular meetings with Lewisham and Greenwich Trust and initiatives like Flowtober and coordinated super march responses. Denise Radley, Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health, highlighted challenges in finding suitable placements for individuals with complex needs, particularly dementia, and the ongoing focus on housing, care, and health protocols for discharges.

The Board also agreed to continue delegating decisions relating to the management of the Better Care Fund to the Section 75 Agreement Management Group.

Health and Wellbeing Board Strategy 2025-2030: Review of Year 1 Actions

Dr. Catherine Mbema, Director of Public Health, presented a review of the first year of the Lewisham Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030. The strategy focuses on social determinants of health, including housing, education, and poverty, alongside prevention programmes for cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Progress was highlighted in three key priority areas:

• Food Justice: Lewisham's Food Justice Action Plan has seen the distribution of community grants to 19 projects, supporting over 20,000 people. The plan is being integrated into the Lewisham Healthy Weight Alliance, and research is underway to understand the drivers of food injustice, particularly within Black, Asian, and other minoritised communities. Lewisham's work has been recognised in the Good Food Local: London Report 2026.
• Sexual and Reproductive Health: A joint sexual health strategy for Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bromley, and Bexley was finalised and published in March 2026, with a local action plan being operationalised. An HIV PrEP pilot has commenced, and a World AIDS Day event was held. The latest data shows improvements in HIV PrEP uptake and STI testing rates, though the under-18 conception rate has increased.
• Drugs, Alcohol, and Tobacco: The Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco Strategic Priorities 2025-2028 were agreed and published. Progress includes increased workforce capacity for stop smoking services, the establishment of alcohol community detox services, and increasing numbers in alcohol and drug treatment. Alcohol-specific mortality has significantly improved, and smoking quit success rates are strong.

Michael Kerin, the Healthwatch Representative, raised questions about the timeliness of data used to assess progress and the visible integration of community engagement within the strategy. Dr. Mbema explained the reliance on national data sources for some indicators but committed to developing a more up-to-date dashboard. She also confirmed that community engagement is embedded within the action areas, with specific examples like Lewisham's Expert by Experience network for drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

Councillor Samantha Gardiner raised concerns about the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 and its integration into future planning, as well as the impact of global conflicts on food justice networks. Logan Manikam, interim consultant in public health, confirmed work with Trading Standards to address vaping, and Dr. Mbema discussed the Healthy Weight Alliance and the Food Justice Alliance's efforts to bolster food growing and support local businesses.

The Board noted the progress made against Year 1 actions and the latest Local Government Outcomes Framework public health indicator data for Lewisham.