This meeting included several presentations, one about the Integrated Care Strategy Update and another about the progress of the National Institute for Health Research: Health Determinants Research Collaboration. The Board were also scheduled to hear from local organisations that support the health and wellbeing agenda including: Age UK, New Testament Church, Oldbury, and Birmingham LGBT. The Board were also scheduled to receive an update from Healthwatch Sandwell and the Health and Wellbeing Board work programme for 2024/25.

Integrated Care Strategy Update

The Integrated Care Strategy (ICS) is being refreshed, and the Board was scheduled to consider this update. The refresh is taking into account a range of engagement feedback from the Black Country. One of the aims of the refresh is to:

develop a coherent, collaborative and systematic mechanism for ongoing engagement of local communities beyond organisational structures and also defining a process that takes into account where the partnership adds value i.e. beyond just NHS services.

National Institute for Health Research: Health Determinants Research Collaboration - Year One Update

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has provided funding to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC) to establish a Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC). The Board were scheduled to receive an update on its progress. The HDRC programme began on 01 January 2024 and aims to:

boost research capacity and capability within local government to embed a culture of always using evidence when making decisions.

Sandwell Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025

The Board was scheduled to consider and comment on plans to complete the Sandwell Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025, which is due to be published in October 2025. The Board were also scheduled to be asked to approve a definition of 'necessary services'. The report defines 'necessary services' as:

all essential services should be considered as ‘necessary’ as they are required to be provided by all pharmacies. Advanced services should also be considered as ‘necessary’, with the exclusion of services that can be obtained elsewhere.

Healthwatch Sandwell Update

The Board was scheduled to receive an update from Healthwatch Sandwell. This included a Healthwatch Explained report which outlines what Healthwatch does, how it will achieve its strategic objectives and its timeline for developing the 2025/26 annual work programme.

Health and Wellbeing Board Work Programme 2024/25

The Board was scheduled to receive the Health and Wellbeing Board work programme for 2024/25. The work programme sets out a range of matters that were scheduled to be discussed by the Board during 2024/25 including the Integrated Care Partnership Update, the Sandwell Suicide Prevention Strategy, Child Friendly Sandwell, and the Better Care Fund Plan Update.