This year’s annual Health Equity summit will be held on 18 November 2024. It will focus on empowering communities for more equitable health outcomes and will enable NW London ICS colleagues to learn from, discuss and contribute to solutions for the NW London population. The conference will ask organisations to contribute to pledges for change which will help shape the 2025/26 Joint Forward Plan. Click here to register to attend.

We are seeking nominees for awards for the category of 'Recognising NW London heroes who are empowering communities'. If you would like to nominate a person or organisation from the NW London voluntary sector, NHS or local authority who has contributed to reducing health inequalities in their communities, please share your nomination by 6 November 2024 by completing this short form. The winners will be announced at the Integrated Care System Health Equity Summit. You can also read about last year’s winners here.

Compassionate care for all, our public consultation on a new model of care for community specialist palliative care, will launch on 18 November. After extensive work with residents and communities – including early publication of an ‘issues paper’ setting out the challenge, events in each borough and a model of care working group made up of residents and experts -  we have co-designed a new proposed model of care for north west London.

The model of care recommends the provision of adult community-based specialist palliative care services in all eight boroughs across North West London including the following. 

• Making sure that all residents have equity of access to the same high standard of care whilst they are at home including adult community specialist palliative care nursing teams, hospice at home and 24/7 specialist telephone advice.
• Almost doubling the number of community specialist beds available to local residents through the introduction of enhanced end-of-life care beds and retaining the number of hospice inpatient beds that we have now.
• We want to improve hospice outpatient’s services so all residents have access to lymphoedema (a long-term condition where a build-up of lymph fluid in your body's soft tissues causes swelling), psychological and bereavement services, hospice day care and wellbeing services.

A summary of the two options is below. 

Option A meets the agreed criteria and offers the most significant benefits for residents across north west London. It supports a comprehensive non-bed-based model of care, with more enhanced end-of-life beds in all boroughs across North West London. This option retains the 57 hospice specialist palliative care inpatient beds without reopening Pembridge Palliative Care Inpatient Unit. We are confident that this model can be delivered within the agreed timescale.

Option B would fully implement the new model of care, including the reopening of the Pembridge Palliative Care Inpatient Unit. No additional inpatient beds are required, so the total number of beds across north west London would remain unchanged. However, this would necessitate reducing the number of beds in neighbouring charitable and NHS hospices to accommodate the reopened Pembridge Unit, which could impact those services.

The JHOSC meeting of 16 October approved our consultation plan, subject to additional input from councillors on our suggested venues for consultation events. 

The consultation document and details of how to get involved will be shared as part of the consultation launch.

Over 56,000 patients responded to our survey on primary care access in the first week: another clear indication that this is an issue that matters greatly to our residents. Our primary care networks are being funded to hold local events for patients and communities once the survey is complete, and will then be asked to develop robust plans to improve access to general practice where there are challenges. There has been a lot of interest in this programme: the ICB has listened carefully to feedback on the initial plan and we are now looking to our PCNs to co-design solutions with their patients and communities. 

Our winter programme is well underway and we are again working across the sector and with voluntary and community sector partners top get the message out to our communities about where to get help when and the importance of being vaccinated against flu and Covid. Activity includes targeted advertising, display materials and a coordinated communications campaign.  
To boost child immunisation and flu vaccination rates in Harrow, we creatively used Halloween to engage parents and their children in a fun and memorable way. Mollison Way Surgery, part of the Harrow East Primary Care Network (PCN), hosted a special Halloween-themed immunisation clinic. This initiative encouraged parents to bring their children to participate in an interactive event and to receive important vaccinations.

The event was successful and to make the experience more enjoyable for children, Louise Clark, our Local Immunisation Coordinator, embraced the Halloween spirit by dressing up for the occasion, alongside the practice staff. This playful approach helped to ease anxieties surrounding vaccinations and made the experience more child-friendly. By creating an inviting atmosphere, we are working to make health interventions more accessible and engaging for the community.

Our developing plans for integrated neighbourhood teams have attracted a great deal of interest and attention. The proposals were discussed at a recent integrated care board meeting in public, with each borough being asked to choose an integrator organisation to coordinate its INTs. We have produced a public-facing video which sets out further information about INTs and our approach. You can view the film here.

39 primary schools across Harrow and Hillingdon have signed up to take part in the national Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme. The schools have each completed a self-assessment to identify their strengths and key areas for development to improve support for neurodivergent pupils. The £242,000 which the Department of Education has allocated to NW London ICS to commission interventions to support improvements is being invested in support from Parent Carer Forums, environmental and communication audits, sessional input from SEND advisory services, Educational Psychologists, Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy and accredited training delivered by Autism Support Teams.

In Harrow, over 100 residents attended Boobs and Bingo, a joint health and care, cancer awareness event for women with learning disabilities, autism or neurodiversity. The fun and informal event provided a tea party, bingo games and the chance to meet new people and share experiences.  

The event covered all aspects of breast, cervical and bowel care, the signs to look out for, information about screening services and who residents can speak to if they have concerns. Accessible talks were delivered throughout the event, and safe spaces were created so attendees could talk freely with health professionals and health care staff. By mixing health messages and fun games, it is hoped that visitors would feel more comfortable in discussing preventative measures and share any concerns. 

We have been developing the mental health strategy for residents of North West London in two stages – first, for our adult population with the second - for children and young people - being developed over the autumn.

The strategy for our adult residents has been developed by a working group drawing representation from local authorities and our providers, chaired by clinicians and will be published in November. It sets out ten ambitions that support increased equity and equality of access to services.  Through a core common offer, it seeks to improve waiting times, improve quality of services and better integration of services to enable more person-centred care and a greater focus on serious mental illness. 

Taking forward our strategy, work has already taken place with our mental health providers to review policies and practices regarding the care of people with serious mental illness (SMI) but where engagement to ensure they receive the necessary treatment is a challenge. This is described as ‘intensive and assertive community care’. Guidance has been provided to support local reviews of provision. NHS NW London is working with both of our provider trusts on an action plan to develop a pathway approach with co-produced care planning and intensive support.

Our Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Provider Collaborative is taking forward actions to support system pressures in the mental health and urgent and emergency care pathway. In order to reduce delays in A&E, the providers have worked together to agree an optimal crisis alternative model to meet current and future demand and are reviewing and improving safe admission and discharge processes in mental health acute services to support overall system flow.

Imperial College Health Partners hosted a Child Health Innovation Workshop on Wednesday 23 October as part of our commitment to the NW London Mission to support the mental health of children and young people. The aim of the event was to design an updated model for Child Health Hubs in NW London that will integrate mental health provision. 

Following the Local Area Partnership SEND Inspection in Hillingdon and the subsequent publishing of the Joint CQC and Ofsted SEND Inspection Report, considerable multi-agency working has been taking place to produce an ambitious Hillingdon SEND Improvement Plan. This has been shared with the Department for Education for review and is expected to have final approval by the end of October. It will then be published and will be available for public scrutiny.

NHS NW London have commissioned West London Alliance to deliver the NHS Open Minds - SEND Mentoring and Volunteering Programme. In its first year saw remarkable success. It fostered inclusivity, created employment opportunities and enhanced patient care across five West London NHS trusts. The success rate exceeded initial expectations for the programme's first year. A total of 34 volunteers were on boarded during year one with nine individuals were confirmed to be in work, four more to join Staff Bank and three progressions to supported internships. Thanks to 1-2-1 mentorship on-site, SEND Volunteers were given the time to explore, practice and perfect desired skills and work towards their goal with additional support from Shaw Trust Employment Services and Wellbeing Hub.

In Westminster, we have expanded health support services e.g., speech and language support, midwifery, (Children’s and Adolescents Mental Health Services (CAMHS), within the Family Hubs). These are strategically located in the most disadvantaged areas of the Borough. By utilising local authority and ARRS-funding, Family Health Navigators are focusing on reaching the most vulnerable families with children who are 0-5. This model is about getting children school ready, prioritising the youngest and most in need and achieving health equity.

Our goal is to make sure roughly 1,200 children (0-5) year olds living in the most deprived areas have access to local health and support services. The successful roll out of the model has enabled residents to access local dental care, gain awareness of healthy weight and oral hygiene, and receive assistance with the broader social determinants of health, such as housing, finances, food, and employment. Although the programme has been running for a short period, it is already successfully identifying and supporting many families who previously lacked access to necessary support. 

Building on our success with this delivery model we are now working with our partners in Kensington and Chelsea and hope to roll out a similar model in the near future.

In Westminster, we have expanded health support services e.g., speech and language support, midwifery, (Children’s and Adolescents Mental Health Services (CAMHS), within the Family Hubs. These are strategically located in the most disadvantaged areas of the Borough. By utilising Local Authority and ARRS-funding, Family Health Navigators are focusing on reaching the most vulnerable families with children who are 0-5. This model is about getting children school ready, prioritising the youngest and most in need and achieving health equity.

Our goal is to ensure that roughly 1200 children (0-5) year olds living in the most deprived areas have access to local health and support services. The successful roll out of the model has enabled residents to access local dental care, gain awareness of healthy weight and oral hygiene, and receive assistance with the broader social determinants of health, such as housing, finances, food, and employment. Although the programme has been running for a short period, it is already successfully identifying and supporting many families who previously lacked access to necessary support. 

Building on our success with this delivery model we are now working with our partners in Kensington and Chelsea and hope to roll out a similar model in the near future.

This month's Race Steering Group highlighted Black History Month reflections and looking at our system’s recently published Shared Needs Assessment through the Race lens. Barriers to Leadership Empowerment Circles for Black Women in the NHS will be launched soon.

The Work Well programme is now live. It is revolutionising healthcare in NW London by integrating health and employment support. It is accessible as a "front door" on primary care systems, streamlining patient care and saving time for GP practices and Social Prescribers. ​ The initiative has shown strong initial traction, receiving 172 referrals in the first 14 working days, primarily from JCP partners. The focus is now on increasing referrals from primary care by positioning Work Well as a prescription for health outcomes. There are two promotional events on 15 and 22 November to demonstrate the ease of referrals into Work Well’s programme and its potential to transform community wellbeing. ​ 

The Hounslow Borough Based Partnership launched Stay Steady and Active, a new falls prevention programme in collaboration with local leisure partners and community groups. Stay Steady and Active helps to increase activity levels, test balance abilities and reduce the risks of falls in residents aged 60 plus. It offers a tailored activity programme, which provides a range of activity classes. The Hounslow Health Outreach Team can also now deliver balance tests in the community, and the new Steady and Active website lists a range of falls prevention community, council and clinical services. Residents can also take the new online Staying Steady Test designed by the West London NHS Falls Prevention and Bone Health Service to help them navigate to the best service to support to their needs. 

The Hillingdon Library Loan Scheme is a community-based service that provides free access to blood pressure monitors, helping residents easily manage their cardiovascular health at home. This initiative allows Hillingdon residents to borrow blood pressure monitors from local libraries for up to 14 days. Patients can monitor their blood pressure at home with the data analysed to offer tailored health advice, supporting early detection and management of hypertension. 

The Refugees and Asylum Seekers Volunteer to Career programme has been nominated for the following two awards. Collaboration and Partnership Award – NHS England HCSW Awards and the Equality and Inclusion Award - West London NHS Trust Excellence Awards. ​

In Brent, The Trusted Assessor Project has helped patients to be discharged from hospital faster, and safer to care homes, with an average ten-day reduction in the length of stay.

After 18 months of planning and working with asylum seekers, this Asylum Seekers Kitchen Project in Ealing its first kitchen event on the 15 October 2024.  

The programme will offer cooking classes to asylum seekers who live in Interim Accommodation Centres with a class running monthly with menus developed from across the globe with the first kitchen preparing and serving delicious Persian and Middle Eastern Food to the community.

This cohort of people has been impacted by structural poverty and a long term lack of cooking facilities. The lack of dining areas where people would come together and eat and converse over dinner, exchange experiences and support each other, has been a contributory factor with an impact on morale and mental health. 

It aims of this programme whilst improving mental health through social interaction, is to create a space for asylum seekers to feel valued, eat food they enjoy using value for money ingredients.

The project involves a partnership of: University of West London, West London NHS Trust and NHS NW London.

This month, the Estates team welcome their new Director of Strategic Estates, Simon Mills, alongside two new project managers. 

Work on the revised NW London Estates Infrastructure Plan and NW London ICS Estates Strategy is drawing to a conclusion with plans to progress this through internal governance this quarter. This follows ongoing engagement with trusts, local authority and borough representatives. The strategy seeks to make more effective use of our existing estate and that belonging to our local authority partners. It will prioritise a number of sites and projects that will enable ICS priorities whilst ensuring our estate remains sustainable, resilience, able to accommodate Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and other clinical activity, and provides improved access to care.

Estates rationalisation is underway with final borough-based team moves underway across Hillingdon (into the Civic Centre), Ealing (into Armstrong Way) and Brent (at the Civic Centre). Sudbury Centre for Primary Care in Brent will remain as a temporary decant site during this time for teams to use whilst permanent workspaces are being prepared.

Work progresses with ICS partners to inform local authority Local Development Plans and their respective Infrastructure Delivery Plans (IDPs). The first draft of the Hounslow IDP has been submitted whilst Site Allocations under the Local Plan continues to be reviewed with boroughs and trusts. Estates and ICS partners have also fed into the Harrow IDP, which was submitted this month. Discussions are currently underway with Brent and RBKC local authorities around bidding for additional CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy) funding to enable projects identified under the strategy and mitigate the impact of population growth across boroughs. It has been confirmed that NW London have been able to obtain the biggest CIL and s106 (external funding) allocation across all London ICBs. The allocation of this funding will be allocated accordingly in alignment with Estates Strategy needs.

NHS NW London Estates continue to meet regularly with NHS property companies (NHS PS and CHP) to undertake audits and review occupancy, lease management and charging across all sites. Feasibility and utilisation studies are commencing at St Charles, Heart of Hounslow, Willesden Centre for Health and The Meadows, some of our costliest and underutilised estate, to explore new opportunities for optimisation and reducing significant void costs to the ICB.

Estates projects due to complete this financial year include the Hillcrest Surgery relocation and refurbishment (Dec 24/Jan 2025 - Ealing), expansion of primary care and reduction in underutilised space at Grand Union Village (Dec 24 - Ealing), and the delivery of a new primary care facility in South Kilburn (Mar/Apr 25 - Brent).

Estates are now working with trusts Sustainability Leads and the Greener NHS Programme Team to prioritise and progress sustainability activity across NW London.

Applications for London Improvement Grant funding for FY 24/25 are now moving through final due diligence stages towards approval to deliver. Reserve schemes have now been invited to advance through due diligence process, led by the London Estates Delivery Unit (LEDU).