Merton's health and social care integration efforts received a boost as the Merton Health Board approved the Better Care Fund (BCF) plan for 2025/26 during its meeting on Tuesday, 24 June 2025.
The BCF, a pooled fund of £26,885,638, aims to integrate health, housing, and care services, managed jointly by the council and the South West London Integrated Care Board (ICB). The fund seeks to reduce barriers created by separate funding streams and focuses on shifting from sickness to prevention and supporting independent living. The meeting agenda included discussion of an update from the Integrated Care Board (ICB), the Merton Better Care Fund, a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, the Merton Story, and a review of the Health and Wellbeing Board's terms of reference.
The Merton BCF plan includes 50 individual schemes designed to deliver on national conditions and objectives. Key metrics for 2025/26 include emergency admissions to hospital for people aged over 65, average length of discharge delay, and long-term admissions to residential and nursing care.
In addition to the BCF plan, the Health and Wellbeing Board reviewed its terms of reference, last updated in 2015, to reflect organizational changes and the new Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Proposed changes include updated core principles, responsibilities, membership, and details on the link to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The board also discussed a reporting process to ensure updates on all year 1 actions and approved a Health and Wellbeing Strategy outcomes dashboard.
The board also received an ICB update, noting the need to reduce costs by approximately 50% and the shift to strategic commissioning. Neighbourhood level integration is a key national priority, with a London Target Operating Model for London for Integrated Neighbourhood Health now published. Business cases for Wilson Hospital and Rowans Park were also discussed.
Other agenda items included a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment and a review of The Merton Story Summary Infographic 2024/25, an annual assessment of Merton's population and local health and care needs.