To provide the Health and Wellbeing Board members with an update on delivery of the shared commitments, priorities and outcomes described within the Herefordshire and Worcestershire (HW) Integrated Care Strategy during 2025/26.

David Mehaffey reported that the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Partnership Assembly (ICPA) had been created in 2022 to oversee the development and delivery of the Integrated Care Strategy across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.  However, following changes in national policy in 2025, it had been agreed by the chairpersons of the respective health and wellbeing boards and the joint chairs of the ICPA that the annual reporting function would be undertaken through the two health and wellbeing boards. 

Consequently, the report provided an update on the delivery of the shared commitments, priorities and outcomes described in the Integrated Care Strategy during 2025/26.  It was noted that the three core priorities (providing the best start in life; living, ageing and dying well; and reducing ill health and premature deaths from avoidable causes) aligned with the main priorities of Herefordshire’s Health and Wellbeing Plan (best start in life for children; and good mental wellbeing throughout life).

In response to a question from Stephen Brewster about the focus on frailty and older patients in the neighbourhood health high-priority cohorts, Zoe Clifford explained that the pilots would test ways of working and inform the model at it extends to other population cohorts, and noted the importance of the wider determinants of health.  Dr Lauren Parry referred to the activity being undertaken in other workstreams.

Resolved:       That the contents of the report be noted.