Community Update - 10 April 2025

Thursday 10 April 2025

Welcome

Welcome to our community update. This is NHS North West London's newsletter for local community and voluntary groups.

Please help us by sharing the relevant content in your community newsletters and email updates aimed at your members and residents. You may also use this wording in social media posts. Images and some campaign materials in different languages are available on our resources page.

Changes to NHS bodies

Further to recent announcements, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have been asked to make significant cost saving of approximately 50% in 2025/26. This is because the government wants to focus resources on frontline care. All parts of the NHS, including providers and national bodies, are being told to further reduce non-frontline spending.

It has also been announced that NHS England – the body which leads the NHS – will close and a number of its functions will move into the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). Find out more about the NHS England announcement.

ICBs are waiting for more national guidance to help us determine how programmes of work will be delivered based on the resources available.

In the meantime, we will continue to deliver on our key priorities as a system and work with partners to support the health and care of residents in north west London. We are grateful for your support and collaboration.

Pharmacy opening hours for Easter 2025

Bank Holidays can affect the opening hours of local pharmacies.

The attached table provides the opening hours for pharmacies in north west London which have been asked to open over the Easter Bank Holiday period. There may be additional pharmacies opening which are not listed.

Please also remember to order your repeat prescriptions a few days in advance of the Easter period. Find out more about pharmacy arrangements this Easter.

Spring booster COVID-19 vaccination programme

This spring you should protect yourself with a COVID-19 vaccination, if you are:

75 and over
a resident in a care home for older adults
or 6 months and older and have a condition that means you are immunosuppressed (not sure if this is you - find out more in tables 3 and 4 of the Greenbook chapter 14a).

Find out more about why vaccination is important and how to book.

Join group for reducing inequalities in community specialist palliative care services

NHS North West London is looking for volunteer representatives to join our reference group for reducing inequalities in community specialist palliative care (CSPC) services.

This reference group seeks to bring together diverse community voices from across north west London to understand people’s experiences and feedback with regard to reducing inequalities in CSPC services.

The application deadline is 30 April 2025. Apply now.

Volunteer lived experience representatives

NHS North West London is looking for passionate volunteers to help shape local healthcare. If you have lived experience of managing a long-term condition—or care for someone who does—you can make a real difference by joining our programme group for long-term conditions.

We welcome residents aged 18 and above from Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster. Your insights will help improve patient outcomes and reduce health inequalities.

This volunteer role lasts for 12 months, with a six-month review. The application deadline has been extended to 7 May 2025.

Find out more in the recruitment pack and apply now.

Resident survey on technology in healthcare

RM Partners Cancer Alliance is running a short survey around the use of technology in healthcare. We encourage residents to take part.

Complete the survey.

Visit the Health Matters health and wellbeing bus today

The Brent Health Matters health and wellbeing bus is making a stop on Wembley Central Square today (10 April 2025). It will be open to visit 10am - 4pm.

Get your free NHS health check and to discuss diabetes, blood pressure and other important health topics with the Brent Health Matters Team.

The full address is Wembley Central Square, High Road, Wembley, HA9 7AF.

Lifestyle service for Kensingon & Chelsea and Westminster residents

A free local healthy lifestyle service to support residents in Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster to lead healthier lifestyles and reduce instances of lifestyle-related cancers and cardiovascular disease. Support includes help to lose weight, exercise more, stop smoking, drink less, eat more healthily and address psychological challenges.

Find out about the support available and and sign up.

Helping older people in Westminster

Age UK Westminster is inviting residents to join their Westminster Residents Feedback Forum. You will have the opportunity to share your thoughts on the challenges and gaps in services for older adults. Your feedback will help shape real solutions that make a difference. Free refreshments and refreshments will be provided!

The sessions take place on 15 and 22 May 2025, in different locations. Find out more and book your place.

Meet our Involvement team at an event near you

The NHS North West London involvement team attends a range of meetings and events with different communities and residents across our eight boroughs.

In April, colleagues will be attending the Hillingdon Council Carer Forum, as well as a Westminster family health event focusing on immunisaton and hypertension. Find out more about these events and those taking place in other boroughs.