The Health and Wellbeing Board met to discuss the progress of Barnet's Neighbourhood Health Plans and the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment. The Board considered approving the strategic direction for the neighbourhood health plans, exploring co-production with residents and partners, and noting barriers to delivery while supporting a collaborative approach to using public assets. The Board also noted the confirmed closure of Fairview Pharmacy and the assessment that it will result in a gap in pharmaceutical provision, and agreed that a supplementary statement to the PNA detailing this gap should be published.

Neighbourhood Plan Update

The Board received an update on the development of Barnet's Neighbourhood Health Plans, which aim to reorganise care around defined neighbourhood populations to deliver more preventative, joined-up care closer to home. This initiative is part of a wider national framework to establish Neighbourhood Health Services.

Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH) and Barnet GP Federation have been endorsed as the integrator organisations responsible for leading this transformation. The plans are structured around four pillars: building community assets and prevention (Pillars 1 & 2), and intervention and tackling rising risk (Pillars 3 & 4).

Key developments include:

• Neighbourhood Managers in Post: Three Neighbourhood Managers have been appointed to establish five neighbourhood leadership teams, bringing together NHS, local authority, and voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) partners.
• Strategic Priorities: The plans focus on Age Well for older people and Start Well for children and young people. The Myria enhanced virtual care programme is also being piloted to support high-cost patients remotely.
• Neighbourhood Health Centres: New guidance has been published on developing Neighbourhood Health Centres, which will aim to co-locate GP services with community, local authority, and VCSE services. Challenges include limited NHS estate, particularly in the South-East neighbourhood, and the need for flexible approaches such as hub-and-spoke models.
• Engagement: The plans emphasise resident and partner engagement, with a focus on co-production. The Barnet Healthy Neighbourhoods Network, led by Inclusion Barnet and Healthwatch Barnet, has been established to ensure community insight informs decision-making.
• Data and Digital: A Barnet Neighbourhood Population Health Management tool is in beta testing to identify health needs and plan targeted interventions. The One London Neighbourhoods Population Health Needs Dashboard is also being tested.
• Workforce and Training: A Workforce and Training Group has been established to coordinate development, identify risks, and support mitigations for integrated neighbourhood working.

The Board considered approving the strategic direction for the neighbourhood health plans, exploring how residents and partners can be engaged in co-production, and noting the barriers to delivery, including limited NHS estate, while supporting a collaborative approach to using existing public assets.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) Update

The Board received an update on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA), a statutory responsibility to review pharmacy provision and identify any gaps.

It was confirmed that Fairview Pharmacy, located at Finchley Memorial Hospital, will close on 14 September 2026, following the end of its Local Pharmaceutical Services contract. An assessment concluded that this closure is likely to create a gap in pharmaceutical provision in the Finchley Memorial Hospital locality.

This conclusion is based on:

• Scale and Activity: The pharmacy dispenses approximately 100 NHS prescriptions daily and serves around 50 walk-in patients.
• Integration with Healthcare Services: It is closely integrated with Finchley Memorial Hospital's outpatient services and co-located walk-in centre, contributing to demand management.
• Range of Services: Fairview Pharmacy offers all nationally commissioned services, as well as additional local services like palliative care medicines and vaccinations, with extended opening hours including Sundays.
• Accessibility and Equity: The pharmacy serves a population with higher needs, including older adults and those with mobility issues, who rely on its accessible premises and services like home delivery.

While other pharmacies are within walking distance, they do not fully replicate Fairview Pharmacy's service mix, clinical integration, or extended hours.

The Board noted the confirmed closure and the assessment that it will result in a gap in pharmaceutical provision. They agreed that a supplementary statement to the PNA, detailing this gap, should be published. This statement will inform commissioning decisions by NHS England and the West and North London Integrated Care Board.

Forward Work Programme

The Board reviewed the draft Forward Work Programme for 2026-2027. Key upcoming items include the Barnet Annual Director of Public Health Report, discussions on the Better Care Fund, and updates on the draft Neighbourhood Health Plan and Joint Strategic Needs Analysis. An update on the Neighbourhood Plan from the integrator was proposed for the next meeting.

Other Business

The Board formally thanked Dr. Nikesh Dattani, Vice Chair, who will be stepping down due to a change in his clinical role. The Chair also noted that a review of the Health and Wellbeing Board's terms of reference would be presented to the Council in July, and a new Vice Chair would be formally appointed at the next meeting.

The meeting concluded with the exclusion of the press and public for discussions on the future function of the Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board.