The Health & Wellbeing Board of Westminster Council was scheduled to meet on 22 May 2025 at the Violett Melchett Health and Wellbeing Hub. The agenda included a review of mental health support, an end-of-year report on the Better Care Fund¹, and a progress report on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment. The board was also expected to discuss membership changes and minutes from previous meetings.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025-28

The report pack included an update on the development of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments (PNA) for both Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea. The report requested agreement to begin a 60-day statutory consultation.

According to the report pack, Health and Wellbeing Boards are required to publish and maintain a PNA every three years, as stated in section 128A of the National Health Service Act 2006 and the Health and Social Care Act 2012. PNAs are used to determine the need for pharmaceutical services in a specific area. They are used by NHS England when considering applications from pharmacies, and by commissioners when deciding which services local pharmacies should provide.

The draft PNAs concluded that both boroughs are well-served by pharmacies, with good access to necessary services and no gaps in current or future provision. The report pack included the draft PNAs for Kensington and Chelsea² and Westminster³.

The report pack stated that the consultation would involve:

• The Local Pharmaceutical Committee
• The Local Medical Committee
• Any persons on pharmaceutical lists and any dispensing doctors
• Any Local Pharmaceutical Services chemist in the area with whom the NHS Commissioning Boards has made arrangements form the provision of any local pharmaceutical services
• Any local Healthwatch or any other patient, consumer and community group which (in the opinion of the Health and Wellbeing Board) has an interest
• Any NHS Trust of Foundation Trust
• The NHS Commissioning Board (NHS England)
• Any neighbouring Health and Wellbeing Boards

24/25 Better Care Fund - End of Year Outturn

The report pack included a report regarding the Better Care Fund (BCF) end-of-year outturn for 2024/25, seeking approval from the Health and Wellbeing Board Chairs to finalise and agree on the submission ahead of the 6 June 2025 deadline.

The report stated that the Better Care Fund End of Year report was produced in partnership with the local authority and North West London Integrated Care Board (NWL ICB). According to the report pack, the only area with an overspend was Integrated Community Equipment Services. The report pack stated that a review was conducted and recommendations were made for implementation in 2025/26.

The report pack included a financial summary, which stated:

• Westminster had a net overspend of £302,970, comprising a £305,023 overspend on Community Equipment services, partially offset by a £2,053 underspend on ICB Discharge funding schemes.
• Kensington and Chelsea had a net overspend of £371,109, comprising a £373,162 overspend on Community Equipment Services, partially offset by a £2,053 underspend on ICB Discharge funding schemes.

The report pack also included a summary of the 2024–25 National Performance Indicators, noting data quality issues with the Avoidable Admissions dataset and variations in Local Authority’s Residential Admission targets due to population figure differences.

Ambition 3 Review: We are supported to look after our mental wellbeing

The report pack included a report profiling work across system partners to support early intervention and prevention across children’s and adults' mental health, contributing to Ambition 3 of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The report pack noted that poor mental health accounts for 23% of the total burden of disease in England, and demand for mental health services is rising. Analysis across North West London showed increased need for support among young people, as well as increased demand for secondary mental health services and talking therapies.

The report pack outlined initiatives and services for children and young people, including:

• The We Got U, U Got This campaign to promote support and raise awareness of wellbeing and mental health.
• Community Solutions Grants to improve access to mental health services for black and global majority young people and families.
• Mental Health Support Teams in schools and colleges.
• Mental Health Youth Workers.
• Online counselling service Kooth.
• Tabletop role-playing games in libraries to support children with poor school attendance.
• Comedy on Prescription events in libraries to tackle social isolation and anxiety.

The report pack also outlined services for adults, supported by campaigns like the Wellbeing Hub and Way to Wellbeing. It noted that work is underway on a Loneliness Action Plan for 2025-2026.

The report pack also described the development of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INT), now nationally described as Neighbourhood Health, with mental health as a local priority.