The Derbyshire Health and Wellbeing Board is scheduled to meet on Thursday, 29 January 2026, to discuss a range of important public health issues. Key topics on the agenda include support for young people who vape, strategies to tackle child poverty, and updates on the Neighbourhood Health Model.

Support for Young People in Derbyshire Who Vape

The board is set to receive an update on the prevalence of vaping among young people in Derbyshire. Data from the 2025 My Life My View Survey suggests that 30% of Year 10 students have tried vaping, a decrease from 44% in 2022. National estimates indicate that approximately 3,000 pupils in Derbyshire vape regularly. The report highlights that while vapes can be a quit aid for adults, they are not risk-free for young people and can lead to nicotine addiction, potentially impacting educational attainment. National measures, such as the banning of disposable vapes and proposed legislation in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, aim to reduce youth uptake. Locally, a vape free schools pilot has been launched in 21 secondary schools, and a new cessation service for young people who smoke or vape is being commissioned.

Tackling Child Poverty and Enabling Children and Young People to Start Well

This agenda item will provide an update on progress towards the strategic priority of tackling child poverty and ensuring children and young people in Derbyshire get the best start in life. The report will cover national policies, including the government's Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life strategy, which focuses on strengthening family services, improving early education and childcare, and enhancing the quality of early years provision. It will also detail local progress on achieving the Good Level of Development (GLD) targets for children by the end of reception year, with a specific focus on reducing inequalities. The development of Family Hubs, designed to provide integrated support for families from conception to age 19, will also be discussed, with initial sites planned for Chesterfield and Ilkeston. Furthermore, the report will cover the Families First Partnership Programme, aimed at providing early help and multi-agency child protection, as well as initiatives such as the Healthy Start scheme for food and vitamins, efforts to reduce smoking in pregnancy, and the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) to address childhood obesity.

Neighbourhood Health Model and the Role of the Health and Wellbeing Board

The board will receive updates on the development of the Neighbourhood Health Model, a key component of the 10 Year Health Plan for England. This model aims to shift focus from hospitals to communities, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. Health and Wellbeing Boards are expected to play a crucial role in supporting planning at a local level through the establishment of NHS Neighbourhood Health Plans. The report indicates that the Derbyshire Health and Wellbeing Board has secured support from the Local Government Association to aid in the development of these plans and to strengthen the board's capacity for oversight. The meeting will also consider potential sign-off routes for the Neighbourhood Health Plan addendum to the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy, given anticipated tight national timelines.

Health Protection Board Update Report

This report will provide the board with a summary of key discussions and messages from the Derbyshire Health Protection Board's meetings on 19 September and 21 November 2025. The Health Protection Board's role is to assure the Health and Wellbeing Boards that adequate arrangements are in place for health protection. Updates are expected on screening and immunisation programmes, including the rollout of the Mpox vaccine and the introduction of the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. The report will also cover the annual air pollution monitoring report, noting positive trends in air quality across Derbyshire, and address concerns regarding the community Infection Prevention and Control specification.

Better Care Fund Quarterly Update Report

The board is asked to approve the Quarter 2 mandatory return for the Better Care Fund (BCF) in Derbyshire. The BCF aims to support the integration of health and social care to improve person-centred care and outcomes. The report will detail progress against three key metrics: emergency admissions to hospital for people aged 65+, discharge delay for acute adult patients, and long-term admissions to residential and nursing homes for people aged 65+. Expenditure for the BCF will also be reviewed.

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2025: The Importance of Good Work and Good Health

Ellie Houlston, Director of Public Health, will provide a verbal report on the 2025 Director of Public Health Annual Report. This report focuses on the health of Derbyshire's working population, highlighting that work is good for health and health is good for business. It includes calls to action for employers, business leaders, healthcare providers, and local authorities to collaborate on ensuring residents are ready for work, enabling people to enter or return to work, supporting working-age people to stay healthy, recruiting a representative workforce, and sharing experiences of work and health.

Amber Valley Locality Partnership Work Programme Update

A verbal update will be provided on the work programme of the Amber Valley Locality Partnership. This will include information on current main projects and priorities, highlighting initiatives that address health outcomes, activities relevant to the board's quarterly meeting theme, and any challenges that require escalation.

Health and Wellbeing Round Up Report

This report will provide a summary of key progress on health and wellbeing issues and projects not covered elsewhere on the agenda. It will include updates from the County Place Partnership Board, focusing on a multi-agency neighbourhood approach to reduce health inequalities in Chesterfield and addressing population growth in South Derbyshire. An update from the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) meeting on 10 December 2025 will also be presented, covering topics such as school readiness targets and the Neighbourhood Health Model. The report will also highlight national policy updates, including the Chief Medical Officer's reports on health trends and infections, the Men's Health Strategy for England, and the Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty Strategy. Additionally, it will cover the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2025 for Derbyshire and proposed changes to the Health and Wellbeing Board's terms of reference. Finally, summaries of Section 75 annual reports for Public Health commissioned services, including 0-19 Public Health Nursing and Integrated Sexual Health Services, will be presented.