Community Update - 13 November 2025

Thursday 13 November 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.

Resident doctors' strike - getting the help you need

Resident (hospital) doctors will be on strike from 7am on Friday 14 November until 7am on Wednesday 19 November 2025.

During this period hospital services are expected to be very busy. Please help us to help you by visiting 111 online or calling NHS 111 for advice on the best service for your needs.

Appointments

If you have an appointment, you will be contacted if it needs to be rescheduled. If you don’t hear anything, attend your appointment as planned.

Getting help

if it’s not an emergency, contact your GP or NHS 111 online or over the phone
In an emergency, always call 999.

For non-emergency health needs, you should access the alternative NHS services available to you:

NHS 111: Fully trained health professionals are available, 24/7, to help if you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital. You can contact NHS 111 online, or by calling 111.
Your GP: The majority of practices in north west London will remain open during the strike, though many will be under increased pressure. Do continue to attend your GP and dental appointments unless you have been contacted and told otherwise.
Pharmacy: Pharmacists are trained health professionals who can help with your medication questions and minor health concerns. Many offer private consultations without an appointment, and can advise where to get further help if you need it.

More information can be found in our website news story.

Join us at our next Residents’ Forum

We are inviting residents, community partners, patient representatives and voluntary groups to join us at our next NHS North West London Residents’ Forum. It will take place online on Monday 24 November 2025, 6 – 7.30pm.

This is your chance to hear the latest updates, share your views, and help shape the future of health and care services across north west London.

The forum will cover:

an introduction from Frances O’Callaghan, Chief Executive for NHS North Central London and North West London ICBs, providing an update on the merger and outlining our shared commitments
how the neighbourhood teams programme is bringing together local health, care and community partners to provide more joined-up, personalised support for residents
an open Q&A and discussion session where you can share your thoughts and experiences.

Please register now via Eventbrite.

Make sure your child is protected from flu

Flu can be a very unpleasant illness for children and sometimes leads to serious complications. The free nasal spray vaccine helps protect them, their classmates and family members too.

If your child has missed having the free nasal spray at school there are lots of catch-up clinics in your local area.

Check on the School Vaccination UK website.

Adults over 65 and people with health conditions should also talk to their GP or visit a local pharmacy for a flu vaccination. Find out more on the NHS North West London website.

Grenfell NHS services — update

As the process to carefully take down Grenfell Tower begins the NHS remains committed to keeping support steady, sharing clear health information, and inviting the community to help shape what comes next.

NHS North West London has written directly to survivors and bereaved families, and to the wider North Kensington community and our partners, to share an update on NHS Grenfell services.

Dedicated services continue for survivors and those who lost loved ones in the tragedy, and Enhanced Health Checks are in place through GP practices.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank all GP practices, GPs and staff in North Kensington and beyond for their ongoing support providing care for survivors and bereaved families and the wider Grenfell affected community.

Our latest communications and involvement summary is published

September's borough engagement focused on understanding and addressing the cultural, social, and practical factors that shape residents’ experiences of health and care.

Highlights include:

the launch of the winter flu campaign in north west London
large-scale health promotion events in Hillingdon reaching more than 700 residents
targeted engagement on dementia and cancer awareness in Ealing
new grassroots partnerships in Hammersmith and Fulham to improve vaccine confidence among Somali-speaking residents.
in Brent, workplace and community sessions promoted physical and mental wellbeing while helping to break down cultural barriers to care.

Read the full report (PDF).

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.

For example, The Involvement team at NHS North West London attended a talk and talk event at Stonebridge Recreation Ground, in Brent. Around 25 participants between 18 and 70, from different communities and ethnic groups, attended and discussed health screenings and vaccinations.

Find out about future events and where you can chat our Involvement Team.