East Sussex HWB SDP priority

Date

What we will achieve

We will continue to deliver our agreed whole system action plans on cardiovascular disease (CVD), Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD), healthy ageing and frailty and mental health prevention, and monitor progress on a quarterly basis through the Health Outcomes Improvement Oversight Board, with a deep dive into one priority area each quarter.

We will ensure that the health outcomes improvement and learning are used to inform ICT implementation and address variation in outcomes.

March 26

Improved outcomes for the population

Q3 progress summary

The Health Outcomes Improvement Programme continues to make strong progress, with all major projects on course to meet their agreed milestones by the end of the year and planning for 2026/27 now underway across our priority areas. This next phase will strengthen alignment with neighbourhood health and wider system plans - including work to improve cardiovascular disease outcomes - while ensuring we are well positioned to respond to potential changes in health and care governance and operate effectively within a more streamlined Integrated Care Board (ICB) structure. A summary of highlights to improve prevention, early diagnosis and community wellbeing across our system in Q3 is as follows:

·         Work to refresh the cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention plan has strengthened our whole-system approach, bringing together partners from across health and care. A well-attended system workshop, followed by in-depth stakeholder engagement, is helping to shape a more coordinated and impactful prevention strategy.

·         Prevention activity continues to expand. The vast majority (88%) of GP practices in East Sussex are now signed up to deliver NHS Health Checks in 2025/26, compared to 44% in Q2, supporting earlier identification of risk factors. There has also been measurable improvement in prescribing lipid-lowering therapies for people at high risk of CVD, with prescription rates rising by 4% and East Sussex’s comparative ranking improving significantly among peer areas.

·         Community engagement has played an important role in supporting winter resilience focussed on respiratory disease. Ten winter preparedness events were delivered across the county, reaching 190 people. Feedback was positive, with almost all attendees reporting increased understanding of how to stay well over winter and all participants saying they would recommend the sessions.

·         Early diagnosis programmes are delivering substantial impact across Surrey and Sussex. Over 111,000 invitations have been issued through the Lung Cancer Screening programme, leading to nearly 65,000 lung health checks, more than 30,000 CT scans and 376 lung cancer diagnoses — supporting earlier detection and improved outcomes.

·         Healthy ageing initiatives have also continued to grow. Following the Stay Strong, Stay Steady, Stay Independent campaign, partners contributed to local “Full of Life” festival events in October 25, and developed a new intergenerational toolkit to help communities build stronger connections between age groups.

·         In addition, a comprehensive review of mental health peer support has now been completed. This includes evidence-based recommendations to maximise the preventative benefits of peer support models across East Sussex, helping to strengthen community-based mental health support for the future.

East Sussex HWB SDP priority

Date

What we will achieve

We will continue to strengthen the strategic stewardship role and vision of the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) through completing our programme of development sessions aimed at growing a deeper shared understanding of our population health and care needs and strengths, and understanding how well we are working together as a system to improve outcomes.

Building on the work on system stewardship in 24/25, we will ensure our East Sussex Health and Care Partnership is operating effectively across our system at Place, with accountability to the HWB for our strategic planning and operational collaboration in our local communities.

March 26

A clear focus and approach across all partners.

Q3 progress summary

Work to strengthen Health and Wellbeing Board leadership continues to move forward. While there has been a slight delay in the published timetable for informal Health and Wellbeing Board development sessions, the overall programme remains on track for completion by February 2026.

Wider national health system reforms are now progressing, with local plans underway to establish the ICB as a more streamlined strategic commissioning organisation operating across a larger Surrey and Sussex footprint.

Locally, a review of place-based health and care governance has been launched to ensure arrangements are aligned with the 10-Year Health Plan and wider system reforms. This will help ensure the HWB and local partnerships remain strong, responsive and well-positioned for the future, including the developing the future Neighbourhood Health Plan in 26/27.

East Sussex HWB SDP priority

Date

What we will achieve

We will continue to enhance support to parents and carers and families to enable the best start in life and ensure service improvements, including pathway and service redesign, are effectively implemented to improve the health and wellbeing and life chances of children and young people.

March 26

Improved experience and increased opportunities to support our most vulnerable families.

Q3 progress summary

Significant progress has been made in strengthening support for children and young people, particularly those with neurodevelopmental needs and emotional wellbeing challenges:

·         The Neurodevelopmental (ND) Pathway Programme continues to evolve, with early evidence demonstrating the positive impact of the needs-led Dimensions tool in improving how children’s needs are understood and supported. Work through the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme is also helping to improve outcomes for children by promoting earlier, more coordinated intervention.

·         Collaboration across partners has been strengthened through a dedicated Communications Task and Finish Group, improving the consistency and clarity of information available to families across neurodevelopment and children’s mental health services.

·         Access to practical support has been expanded through a one-year extension of the Amaze Neurodevelopmental Navigation Service, ensuring more families receive timely guidance and help to navigate services.

·         The Suicide Prevention Strategy has now been completed, providing a clear framework for coordinated action to reduce risk and strengthen early support.

·         Improvements have also been made to the accessibility of information and early intervention offers for emotional wellbeing and mental health (EWMH), making it easier for children, young people and families to find help when they need it.

·         Importantly, the Voice of the Child continues to inform service development, ensuring that lived experience remains central to shaping future improvements.

East Sussex HWB SDP priority

Date

What we will achieve

We will implement integrated delivery of community mental health services and a wider range of earlier mental health support for adults of all ages and people with dementia, through delivering functional Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams (NMHTs) and ensuring their alignment with emerging Integrated Community Teams, in line with the Sussex-wide approach, as well as improving access and outcomes in supported accommodation and capitalising on opportunities presented by the planned opening of the new Coombe Valley Hospital.

March 26

Reduced reliance on specialist services and improved population health and wellbeing

Q3 progress summary

Neighbourhood Mental Health Teams (NMHTs) are now fully live across East Sussex, with all five local teams successfully completing the preparations needed to begin operating aligned to Integrated Community Teams (ICTs) and borough and district boundaries. This marks an important milestone in improving access to more joined-up, community-based mental health support. Teams are up and running and supporting local people, with work continuing to strengthen digital integration and the planned shared client record system.

Alongside this, work is also progressing to strengthen support for people living with dementia, mental health needs and those requiring supported housing, helping to build a more responsive and coordinated mental health system for our communities. This includes:

·         A feasibility study is underway to explore a potential dementia support service in Lewes.

·         Partners continue to strengthen supported living provision through contract review, re-tender activity and informal engagement with providers potentially interested in developing or expanding mental health housing options.

·         Adult Social Care is progressing work to strengthen trauma-informed practice, with a trauma self-assessment under consideration and a Peer Support and Personal Wellbeing report nearing completion.

·         Work on the Older People’s Mental Health Needs Assessment is advancing, with partner data secured and the dementia focus agreed to support a robust, evidence-based review.

East Sussex HWB SDP priority

Date

What we will achieve

We will support the move to a neighbourhood health service that delivers more care at or closer to home through our five Integrated Community Teams (ICTs) across East Sussex. In line with ICTs across Sussex, this will focus on providing proactive, joined-up care for people who require support from multiple services and organisations; improved access to local health and care services and, improving the health and wellbeing of our population through an asset-based approach.

March 26

In year plan delivered.

Q3 progress summary

Work continues to strengthen shared leadership and integrated care across East Sussex’s five ICT areas (Eastbourne, Hastings, Lewes, Rother, and Wealden). All leadership groups now meet regularly, have nominated Chairs, and are co-producing joint work plans to address local health and care priorities. Groups also use dedicated digital channels and have completed self-assessments to identify development needs, with a Sussex-wide ICT ‘organisational development’ support offer planned for the multi-agency leadership teams in Q4.

A key focus is implementing neighbourhood-level multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) to deliver more proactive care for older and frail people and those with multiple long-term conditions. A risk stratification tool is now being used to identify groups where coordinated care can have the greatest impact. Early work is building shared understanding across primary, community, and social care services, with the aim of improving independence, quality of life, and the experience of integrated care, while reducing avoidable unplanned hospital admissions. Insights from this initial phase will inform the expansion of integrated care to wider populations with complex or rising health needs.

Voluntary and community sector-led winter resilience initiatives have been actively promoted and supported across the system, helping to strengthen local preparedness and community support.

East Sussex HWB SDP priority

Date

What we will achieve

We will continue to embed efficiency and process learning from transformation programmes into ‘business as usual’ to further strengthen efficient hospital discharge processes, supported by digital automation, with a long-term funding plan for discharge capacity

March 26

More people will be able to be discharged safely to a community setting.

Q3 progress summary

The system continues to work collaboratively to improve hospital discharge and support patients with complex care needs. Additional winter funding, now fully integrated into the Better Care Fund, has been used to expand discharge-to-recover-and-assess (D2RA) beds, alongside care coordination hubs, deploying social work teams to support discharge pathways, and support for people who self-fund their care. A small portion of funding is also reserved to maintain flexibility and support patient flow over the winter period. Multi-agency Discharge Events (MADE) involving local partners were also put in place ahead of winter – these structured discussions aim to improve the flow of patients through hospital, reduce length of stay and speed up discharge through identifying bottlenecks, challenging complex cases and streamlining processes.

East Sussex HWB SDP priority

Date

What we will achieve

We will finalise, agree and implement our shared vision for the housing sector in East Sussex set out in the East Sussex Housing Partnership Strategy and mobilisation plan, with a strong focus on health, housing and care as part of a strategic partnership framework that complements the borough and district housing authority strategies.

March 26

A clear ambition for all partners

Q3 progress summary

East Sussex continues to make progress in improving housing and preventing homelessness. Having been co-produced across partners in the housing, health and care system, the first East Sussex Housing Partnership Strategy has now been adopted by all six local authorities, providing a shared framework for action and reducing health inequalities linked to housing.

National policy developments have been reviewed to shape a local response, including the Plan to End Homelessness and the Social and Affordable Homes Programme 2026–2036. These support earlier identification of people at risk, expanded supported housing, and more accommodation options for older residents. The Plan to End Homelessness includes a new duty to collaborate to help identify people at risk of homelessness earlier, strengthening joint working to prevent people being discharged from hospital becoming homeless, and new guidance for health and care staff linked to the Care Act 2014.

Local authorities are preparing for new responsibilities under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 and have already hosted the first East Sussex Landlord Forum to raise awareness of tenant protections. National funding settlements for local housing authorities have also been announced. The funding period runs until March 2029 and combines previous grants to prevent homelessness and support people who are rough sleeping.