The health and wellbeing board is an NEL Council committee, which has responsibility to ensure that the health of the local population improves, and to ensure that health and social services are co-ordinated. These and other responsibilities of the board are set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

Every council area in England has a Health and Wellbeing Board to bring together local GPs, councillors and managers from the NHS and the council. Their job is to plan how to improve people's health and make health and social care services better in their area. Members of the public have the chance to be involved in the work of their local Health and Wellbeing Board through your local Healthwatch.