Insight Bulletin - December 2025 |
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North Kensington update. A bulletin where we share the learning and insight from the North Kensington Recovery Programme (Grenfell).
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Community-Led Recovery – Grenfell population health monitoring information meetingOn 19 November 2025, fourteen local residents joined representatives from NHS North West London and RBKC Public Health at Bay 20 for an open conversation about population health monitoring and how health data is shaping services for the Grenfell community.
The session was designed to make complex health data easier to understand and to ensure recovery remains community‑led. Residents asked important questions about where the data comes from, what it can and cannot show, and how it reflects lived experience. Topics ranged from mental health impacts to cancer detection and prevention, with a strong emphasis on the need for early intervention and transparency.
Feedback highlighted a clear appetite for ongoing engagement, including more opportunities for Q&A and sessions with subject‑matter experts. NHS teams also encouraged residents to take up the Enhanced Health Check (EHC), which plays a vital role in monitoring population health and tailoring support.
The next community meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 4 February 2026 (venue to be confirmed). These conversations are central to turning the principle of community‑led recovery into reality and ensuring health services respond to emerging needs.
Read the full article and find out more.
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Grenfell Firefighter research study: Key findingsA research study, led by experts from Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge, has examined the long-term health of London firefighters, including those who responded to the Grenfell Tower fire. The study, commissioned by the London Fire Brigade, aimed to identify any early signs of health risks, such as cancer, by analysing blood samples for small DNA changes that could be linked to illness.
A question and answer information sheet has been produced to help explain the findings.Key findings
- The study involved 685 firefighters, with detailed genetic testing on 261, most of whom attended Grenfell
- Out of those tested, 11 firefighters showed a genetic change in their blood. All 11 had attended Grenfell, but the number is too small to draw firm conclusions
- Importantly, these DNA changes do not mean someone has cancer or will develop it. Similar changes can be found in people who have never been exposed to fires, and most people with these changes remain healthy
- There is currently no reliable blood test for early cancer detection available to firefighters or the wider community as a result of this study.
Support and next steps for residents
- The NHS continues to offer dedicated health and wellbeing services for those affected by Grenfell, including survivors, bereaved families, and North Kensington residents
- For more information or support, visit grenfell.nhs.uk or call the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service at 020 8637 6279
- The NHS and public health teams are closely monitoring community health and will update the public as new research emerges.
If you have health concerns, please speak to your GP or reach out to the dedicated services available.
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Grenfell Enhanced Health Checks – Now offered at ACAVA for Men’s Shed membersWe’re pleased to share that Grenfell Enhanced Health Checks are now being offered at a new community setting: ACAVA in partnership with the Men’s Shed, located at 54 Blechynden Street, London W10 6RJ. This partnership reflects our commitment to bringing health and wellbeing support directly into community-led, creative, and supportive spaces.The sessions at the Men’s Shed are exclusively for Men’s Shed members, with checks taking place in a familiar, comfortable environment. The Men’s Shed is an inclusive space for anyone who enjoys hands-on creative projects, tools, and shared workshop activities. The Men’s Shed is open to everyone – all genders are warmly welcome to join the community.If you lived or worked in the Grenfell area at the time of the fire and have any concerns about your health as a result of the fire, consider coming forward for a 30-minute health check with a trusted health professional. They are free, completely confidential, and designed to provide advice on many aspects of your health and wellbeing. Health checks include breathing checks, blood pressure, mental, emotional and social wellbeing support. Think of it as a simple, supportive annual health MOT – centred entirely around your wellbeing.By working with valued community venues such as the Men’s Shed, we’re continuing to make health checks accessible, friendly, and welcoming, offering spaces where people feel comfortable and supported.
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A message from the NHS to the families of those affected by the fire in Hong Kong
Everyone in the North Kensington Recovery team and across the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service wants to express our deep condolences to the individuals and families directly affected by the devastating fire in Hong Kong.
We know there has been loss of life so our thoughts and prayers are with these families, as well as those who have been injured.
We recognise that this terrible news from Hong Kong may have had a triggering impact for those in our Grenfell-affected community, bringing up memories and difficult feelings.
The Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service is here to help. If you need emotional support please contact the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service by calling 020 8637 6279 everyday from 8am to 8pm. After 8pm and out of hours please call the CNWL Advice Support line on 0800 0234 650.
We stand with you during this difficult time.
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Need urgent dental care? Help is available through NHS 111Access to urgent dental appointments has been improved, don’t suffer with painful tooth problems, you can now call NHS 111 to get help.Appointments can be accessed 24 hours a day, seven days a week through NHS 111 — either online or by calling 111.What the service coversUrgent dental appointments are there to help people experiencing serious dental problems, including:
- severe toothache that cannot be managed with over-the-counter painkillers
- dental abscesses causing swelling, pain or fever
- broken, fractured or knocked-out teeth and fillings
- bleeding in the mouth following an injury
- infection
- severe gum bleeding.
- How to access care
You do not need to be registered with a dentist to use this service. Anyone in need of urgent advice or treatment can contact NHS 111.More information about urgent dental conditions is available at NHS.uk/urgentdentalcare.
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