The Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board is holding a public meeting on Friday, 27 March 2026, to discuss the future of local medical care and community support in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. This session, which begins at 10:00 am in the Bridges Room at the Gateshead Civic Centre, allows residents to hear about new health plans directly from local officials and partner organisations.
The meeting will cover several important topics, including a review of local health research and updates on how pharmacies in the area are performing. Board members will also discuss the Best Start Local Plan, which aims to help 76.4 per cent of five-year-olds in the borough reach their development goals by 2028.
Officials will provide an update on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, which is a study used to understand the biggest health challenges facing local people. This information helps shape the Good Jobs, Homes, Health and Friends strategy, which explains how the council and the NHS plan to improve life for everyone in the community.
One major focus for the board is how to support the town’s ageing population, as records from Gateshead Council show there will be over 6,000 more people aged 65 or older in the area by 2047. The board, chaired by Councillor Lynne Caffrey, includes members from the local NHS and volunteer groups who work to ensure resident voices are heard.
The meeting comes at a time of change for the local health system, as the regional health commissioning body is currently reorganising how it manages services starting from 1 April 2026. Community members are encouraged to attend the session on Regent Street to ask questions and learn more about how these changes might affect their daily care.
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