The Health and Wellbeing Board meeting scheduled for Monday 23 March 2026 was set to cover a range of significant public health and social care topics. Key discussions were planned around strategies to reduce smoking prevalence, updates on health and social care integration, and the development of neighbourhood health plans. Additionally, the board was scheduled to review the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board's commissioning plan, the Better Care Fund report, and the Adult Social Care Strategy.

Making Smoking History in County Durham

A report and presentation were scheduled to inform the Health and Wellbeing Board about the work completed in 2025/26 and planned activities for 2026/27 concerning the Making Smoking History agenda. The overall aim of this initiative is to reduce smoking prevalence rates, address health inequalities, and improve health and wellbeing across County Durham. The report outlined recommendations for the board to endorse key work programmes for 2026, support system collaboration to achieve smoke-free targets, and continue advocating for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, including its implementation and enforcement in County Durham. The background information highlighted that the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy aims for a smoking prevalence of 5% or less by 2030, requiring a reduction of 16,628 smokers. Smoking prevalence in County Durham had fallen to 8.8% in 2024, the first time it has been recorded under 10%. The report also detailed the role of the FRESH programme in denormalisation of tobacco and an eight-point action plan developed within County Durham, overseen by the Tobacco Control Alliance. A discussion was planned to explore how different parts of the system can work together to support smokers, align services to target high prevalence areas, and achieve these ambitions.

Health and Social Care Update

A verbal update was scheduled to be provided on the integration of health and social care. This update was expected to cover recent development sessions and collaborative work with partners from health, the voluntary and community sector, and local authorities, incorporating testimony from individuals with lived experience. The focus was on understanding how neighbourhood health approaches across the life course can effectively reach communities facing challenges. The presentation was anticipated to highlight the ongoing reimagining of community support, with an emphasis on preventing ill health and promoting good health, while acknowledging the potential for government guidance to be health-focused.

Neighbourhood Health Plans

The board was scheduled to receive a presentation on Neighbourhood Health Plans. This initiative is described as a reimagining of support for communities, focusing on how to build neighbourhood health into a partnership approach. Key messages included the importance of working with people rather than to them, using data to engage willing partners, and fostering trust, transparency, tenacity, and a willingness to take risks. The presentation was expected to address how to build Neighbourhood Health into partnership approaches, demonstrate commitment, and identify barriers and opportunities. It was also noted that significant reductions in hospital demand, such as fewer outpatient appointments and unplanned admissions, could be achieved through this approach.

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board Commissioning Plan

A report was scheduled to present the five-year commissioning plan of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and provide an update on NHS medium-term planning. The report highlighted the Ten-Year Health Plan's emphasis on significant changes to service organisation, delivery, and funding, requiring a new model of planning with a rolling five-year horizon. The plan aims to support transformational change by delivering three key shifts: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. The report detailed specific ambitions for elective care, cancer, diagnostics, urgent and emergency care, primary and community services, and mental health, learning disabilities, and autism. It also outlined expectations for financial discipline and productivity. The commissioning plan is underpinned by detailed submissions from various work programmes and will be further supported by local Neighbourhood Health Plans.

Better Care Fund 2025-26 Quarter Three Report

This report was intended to provide a summary of the Better Care Fund (BCF) 2025-26 Quarter 3 submission for Durham County Council. The BCF is a mandatory policy supporting the integration of health, housing, and social care. The report aimed to assure the Health and Wellbeing Board of continued compliance with the fund's requirements. It detailed performance against key metrics, including emergency admissions to hospital for people aged 65+, average days from discharge ready date to discharge, and admissions to long-term residential and nursing care homes for people aged 65+. The report indicated that emergency admissions were not on track to meet the target, while discharge delays were on track, and permanent admissions to care homes were better than targeted. Expenditure to date was reported as consistent with tolerance levels.

Adult Social Care Strategy

A report and presentation were scheduled to update the Health and Wellbeing Board on the development of an Adult Social Care Strategy for 2025-2028. This strategy, highlighted by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as beneficial for cohesive and focused activity, was developed with input from service users, carers, providers, and the workforce. It is structured around three priority themes: prevention, involvement, and equity in experience and outcomes. The strategy was approved by Cabinet in January 2026, and the refreshed Service Improvement Plan for 2025-2027 will serve as its delivery plan. The report noted that the Council was rated 'Good' overall by the CQC in its discharge of adult social care duties, but identified areas for improvement. The strategy aims to ensure adults and their carers receive the necessary care and support to live the lives they desire, with a focus on compassion, prevention, and strengthening relationships with local communities.