The new NHS: health and wellbeing boards

Part of The NHS after the Health and Social Care Act

Health and wellbeing boards are central to the government’s vision of a more integrated approach to health and social care.

Established and hosted by local authorities, health and wellbeing boards bring together the NHS, public health, adult social care and children's services, including elected representatives and Local Healthwatch, to plan how best to meet the needs of their local population and tackle local inequalities in health.

Related content

Health and wellbeing boards: One year on

This report examines how health and wellbeing boards have used their shadow year, what they have achieved, and whether they are providing effective leadership across local systems of care.

Health and wellbeing boards: System leaders or talking shops?

Will health and wellbeing boards be able to achieve greater success than previous bodies? This paper assesses the ways in which local authorities have begun to develop new arrangements with their partners.

The Integration Transformation Fund: the foundation of a genuinely integrated system or just another brick in the wall?

Expectations for the Integrated Transformation Fund are high, but will it actually help to deliver integrated care when the system is so under pressure?

How are health and wellbeing boards shaping up to their new responsibilities?

As implementation of the government’s controversial health reforms draws near, Richard Humphries looks at how health and wellbeing boards are shaping up.

Public health in England reading list

A selected list of references on public health held by The King's Fund library.

Map of England

Health and wellbeing boards directory

Our directory provides details and contact information for health and wellbeing boards and clinical commissioning groups in England.

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Health and wellbeing boards (HWBs) explained

What are health and wellbeing boards (HWBs) and what role could they play in developments such as integrated commissioning and place-based systems of care?

Health and wellbeing boards: One year on

This report examines how health and wellbeing boards have used their shadow year, what they have achieved, and whether they are providing effective leadership across local systems of care.

Health and wellbeing boards: policy and prospects

This article aims to examine the role of health and wellbeing boards in the context of the government's reforms introduced by the Health and Social Act 2012 and the fundamental challenges facing the NHS and local government; it also aims to assess evidence from the early experience of shadow boards and considers what factors will most influence their success.

Health and wellbeing boards: System leaders or talking shops?

Will health and wellbeing boards be able to achieve greater success than previous bodies? This paper assesses the ways in which local authorities have begun to develop new arrangements with their partners.