The Health and Wellbeing Board of Camden Council was scheduled to meet on Wednesday 09 September 2026 to discuss a range of public health matters. Key topics were expected to include updates on health protection, winter preparedness, and the response to extreme heat, alongside plans for tackling long-term rough sleeping and refreshing the suicide prevention strategy. The Board was also expected to review the West and North London Integrated Care Board's 10-year health and care strategy and consider the Board's future work programme.

Health Protection, Winter Preparedness and Severe Weather Update

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on health protection issues and extreme weather in Camden. This was expected to include information on measles cases in England and London, and the rollout of the new Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Chickenpox (MMRV) vaccine. Details of a one-off vaccination programme for Meningococcal group B (Men B), aimed at specific age groups and those starting higher education, were also anticipated.

Regarding winter preparedness, the report was expected to outline the eligibility for seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines for 2026/27, noting a change in the COVID-19 outreach provider. Plans for monitoring seasonal vaccine uptake and managing winter virus outbreaks, particularly in care homes, were also to be discussed. The report was also expected to cover cold weather preparedness, including the activation of the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) for rough sleepers and the provision of Warm Spaces across the borough.

The response to the unprecedented extreme heat experienced during Summer 2026 was also a scheduled discussion point. This was expected to include details of training workshops held for council services, the development of a staff intranet page on Service Resilience in Extreme Heat, and a webpage for residents on preparing for hot weather. The Cool Spaces programme, offering publicly accessible respite locations, was also to be reviewed.

Camden Long Term Rough Sleeping Partnership Plan

The Board was to consider the requirements and rationale for Camden's Long-Term Rough Sleeping Partnership Plan, as mandated by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). This plan aims to improve system working and reduce long-term rough sleeping by the end of the current Parliament. The report was expected to detail the plan's need to be completed by December 1st, 2026, and the proposed approach to its development, including collaboration with various system partners such as the NHS, adult social care, and voluntary and community sector organisations. The report was expected to highlight the demographic and support needs of the long-term rough sleeping cohort in Camden and outline the proposed governance structure for monitoring progress, including a Long-Term Rough Sleeping Partnership Group and Operations Group. As the Board's next meeting would be after the deadline, a recommendation was to delegate the sign-off of the Plan to the Director of Health and Wellbeing.

Suicide Prevention: Refreshing the Suicide Prevention Strategy

A report was scheduled to discuss suicide prevention and the development of a refreshed strategy for Camden. The report was intended to raise awareness, update the Board on progress under the current strategy, introduce the new strategy's development, and encourage partner participation. It was noted that suicide affects all societies and requires multi-faceted, coordinated approaches. The current strategy, running from 2022-2027, has achieved significant progress, and the process to refresh it had begun. The report was expected to detail the current strategy's key messages and priority areas, including building partnerships, enabling a skilled workforce, increasing support for high-risk groups, and improving data collection. It was also expected to outline the development considerations for the new strategy, emphasizing a public health approach, co-production with lived experience, consideration for children and young people, and the use of data and evidence. The Board was to be asked to ensure active organisational representation in the strategy development and to allow the final strategy to be presented for discussion and action.

Hospital at Home: Supporting Neighbourhood Health and Reducing Hospital Admissions

The Board was to receive an overview of how Hospital at Home (H@H) services, also known as 'Virtual Wards,' support Camden residents and contribute to neighbourhood health ambitions. H@H services are a core part of NHS England's plan to improve urgent and emergency care, enabling patients to receive acute, hospital-level care safely in their homes. The report was expected to highlight the benefits of H@H, including improved patient mobility, reduced risk of hospital-acquired infections, and enhanced patient and carer choice. It was expected to outline the vision for a virtual hospital at home across North Central London boroughs and detail the services currently in place in Camden, delivered by the CNWL Rapid Access Service in partnership with the Royal Free Hospital. Specialist services, such as UCLH @ Home and the Royal Free Cardiovascular Virtual Ward, were also to be mentioned. The report was expected to identify areas for improvement, including variable utilisation, inconsistent engagement from acute clinicians, and challenges with access to diagnostics and communication with General Practice.

West and North London Integrated Care Board: 10-Year Health and Care Strategy

This report was to introduce the emerging 10-year health and care strategy for the new West and North London Integrated Care Board (ICB) footprint. The strategy aims to improve outcomes for residents, ease pressure on services, and make the best use of public resources. It acknowledges widening health inequalities, rising expectations for access and digital services, and sustained pressure on hospital and crisis care, advocating for a shift towards prevention and community-first support. The report was to invite the Board to consider how the strategy aligns with Camden's priorities, identify areas for shared delivery between the Council, the ICB, and place partnerships, and provide feedback for the strategy's development. The report was for discussion and noting only, not for approval of a final strategy or resource allocation.

Work Programme of the Health and Wellbeing Board

The Board was to be asked to note the draft work programme, which is developed by Board members and partners. The programme is intended to be a working document, reviewed at each meeting, and guides the implementation of Camden's Health & Wellbeing Strategy. The current priorities for action are reducing alcohol-related harm, reducing drug-related harm, and embedding prevention in neighbourhoods. The provisional work programme was expected to include standing items such as health protection updates and annual safeguarding reports, as well as specific items like the Neighbourhood Health Plan, the future of patient voice following the cessation of Healthwatch, and updates on various strategies and initiatives. The Board was also to be invited to consider additional items for inclusion in the programme.