The Chair welcomed everyone and read the webcast notice.

Apologies for absence were received from:

Dr Abel Adegoke, Chair of Primary Care Council

Councillor Tom Anderson, Wirral Council

Patsy Crocker, Wirral Chamber of Commerce

Louise Healey, Wirral Partnership Manager, DWP

Sir David Henshaw, Chair of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH)

Councillor Kathy Hodson, Wirral Council

Janelle Holmes, CEO of WUTH (represented by Matthew Swanborough, Chief Strategy Officer)

Karen Howell, Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Trust (represented by Tony Bennett, Chief Strategy Officer)

Councillor A Onwuemene, Wirral Council

Mark Thomas, Merseyside Fire and Rescue

Members of the Board are asked whether they have any personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any application on the agenda and, if so, to declare them and state the nature of the interest.

There were no declarations of interests.

To approve the accuracy of the minutes of the meeting held on 21 December 2022.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board on 21 December 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

No questions, statements or petitions were received.

The Place Director (Wirral), NHS Cheshire And Merseyside, introduced his report which updated the Board on the development of Wirral as a “place” within the Integrated Care System (ICS) and of the working arrangements of NHS Cheshire and Merseyside in the borough. The roles of the Health and Wellbeing Board to provide strategic oversight for matters pertaining to health and social care was noted along with the role of the Place Based Partnership Board concerning itself with delivery, and that their roles were developing as the governance matured and delegation was established.  Updates would be provided in the future.

Resolved - That

(1)  this report be noted and similar updates be received at future meetings.

(2)  the minutes of the Wirral Place Based Partnership Board held on 10th November 2022, 8th December 2022 and 12th January 2023 be noted.

(3)  the minutes of the Wirral Place Based Partnership Board from 9th February 2023 and 9th March 2023 be received when approved.

The Appendix may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact davebradburn@wirral.gov.uk if you would like this document in an accessible format.

The Director of Public Health and the Head of Health Protectionupdated the Board on the partnership work undertaken to develop a Wirral Health Protection Strategy. The Covid-19 pandemic had heightened the profile of health protection and provided significant lessons for Wirral’s Health Protection Board which worked with partners and the UK Health Security Agency. The local strategic approach to health protection in Wirral was being refreshed as a result, to become the Health Protection Strategy to tackle infectious diseases and other environmental pollution effects.

Resolved - That the Wirral Health Protection Strategy 2023-2027 and Delivery Plan be endorsed and an annual report be provided with an update on progress.

The Appendix may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact bridgethollingsworth@wirral.gov.ukif you would like this document in an accessible format.

The Head of Integrated Services introduced this report which provided assurance that the 2022/23 Better Care Fund Plan had met its requirements and was approved by the National Health Service England (NHSE). The aims of the Fund Plan were outlined, supporting people in their homes and communities rather than in hospitals.

Resolved - That Wirral’s Better Care Fund Plan for 2022/23 be noted and accepted.

The Appendices may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices. Please contact Simon.Banks@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk  if you would like this document in an accessible format.

The Place Director (Wirral), NHS Cheshire And Merseyside, and the Associate Director of Strategy and Collaboration, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, presented the report of the Place Director (Wirral), NHS Cheshire And Merseyside, which provided an update on the development of the Interim Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership Strategy and plans for 2023/24. The Strategy was amalgamated from existing Strategies and was to be finalised in June 2023 but was to be shared with stakeholders in April 2023 before formal approval by this Board and the Integrated Care Board. There would also be a five year plan to be renewed at the end of March each year. The four delivery programmes were outlined.

The Chair, recognising the Board would not meet again until July, suggested an additional recommendation to delegate authority to the Director of Adult Social Care and Health in consultation with the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board to give final approval. The final draft version would be circulated to colleagues for comments. 

Resolved - That

(1)  the update on the development of the Interim Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership Strategy and plans for 2023/24 be noted;

(2)  delegated authority be given to the Director of Adult Social Care and Health in consultation with the Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board to give final approval.

The Assistant Director: Consultant in Public Health presented the report of the Director of Public Health which summarised the plan to implement the next phase of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 2022–2027, which was endeavouring to bring together elements that were working to reduce inequalities and produce population-level health outcomes. The four priorities were set out and the leadership structure that would help monitor and drive progress.

Resolved - That the implementation plan be noted and approved.

Representatives of the Community, Voluntary and Faith sector Reference Group presented the report of the Director of Law and Governance which provided updates from the Group on their work to deliver prototypes of support arrangements at community level in line with legislation and guidance. In particular was the development of Community Hubs. Two further areas of work, in support of the principles and application of working together in partnership, were presented, being the People Plan for Nature and Street Safety tackling antisocial behaviour.

Resolved - That

(1)   the continuing progress of the CVF Reference Groups work on Community Hubs, Family Hubs and Green and Open Spaces be noted;

(2)   the contents of the attached reports, and the continuing involvement and support to the delivery of the Council’s approved Health and Wellbeing Strategy and to the continued development of work for engagement with communities and residents be noted.

The Head of Legal Services presented the report of the Director of Law and Governance which gave the proposed work programme for the following Municipal Year.

Resolved - That the proposed Health and Wellbeing Board work programme for the remainder of the 2022/23 municipal year be noted.