Merton's Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) is set to revise its terms of reference to better align with the borough's evolving health strategy and address key priorities, including reducing health inequalities. The decision was made during a meeting on Tuesday 24 June 2025.
The move comes as the board seeks to modernise its operational framework, last updated in 2015, to reflect significant changes in organisations, roles, and the introduction of the new Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030. The revised terms aim to incorporate updated core principles, new statutory responsibilities, and a refreshed membership list.
Key changes to the terms of reference include:
- Updated core principles reflecting the current Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
- Updated responsibilities to include new statutory duties, such as publishing and maintaining a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) and links to the Joint Local Health and Care Plan.
- Updated membership list to reflect current roles and organisations.
- Details of the link to the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the outcomes dashboard, and monitoring process.
- A revised agenda-setting process to reflect priorities within the Health and Wellbeing Strategy on a rolling 12-month basis.
The board also discussed a reporting process to ensure updates on all year 1 actions are received in a rolling 12-month period, including a Health and Wellbeing Actions Highlight Dashboard and Report. Additionally, they approved a Health and Wellbeing Strategy outcomes dashboard to monitor progress using outcome measures included in the strategy.
Alongside the revised terms of reference, the board addressed several other key issues, including an update from the Integrated Care Board (ICB), the Merton Better Care Fund, a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, and a review of the Merton Story Summary Infographic 2024/25.
The Health and Wellbeing Board's agenda and supporting documents can be found on the Merton Council Democracy Services website.