The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to discuss a range of important health and social care topics. Key areas for review include updates on cancer screening programmes, the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ residents, and the pressures and pathways within mental health services. The committee will also receive an update from the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care and review its work programme.

Screening and Prevention Panel Update

The committee is set to receive an update on cancer screening programmes in Camden. This follows the establishment of a Screening and Prevention Panel in 2023, which focused on improving the uptake of cancer screening. The report will present the latest data on cancer screening coverage and detail ongoing initiatives aimed at increasing participation. Cross-cutting initiatives include a North Central London (NCL) data dashboard for more granular analysis of uptake, efforts to reach English Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) communities, and community outreach and training programmes. Specific focus areas include cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination, breast cancer screening, and bowel cancer screening, with updates on projects like the Aqoon Breast Screening Pilot for Somali Women and the Don't Wipe Away the Signs bowel screening campaign. Lung cancer screening progress will also be detailed, alongside information on the ongoing debate surrounding prostate cancer screening and Camden's alignment with UK National Screening Committee recommendations.

LGBTQ+ Health

A report will be presented to provide further information on LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing in Camden, addressing a specific request from the committee. The report will cover key health inequalities affecting LGBTQ+ communities, including mental health, sexual health, and substance use. It will highlight current service provision and recent developments, as well as outlining the work being undertaken by the Council and partner organisations to improve outcomes and address inequalities for LGBTQ+ residents. North London Foundation Trust (NLFT) has contributed content regarding NHS mental health and community services in Camden. The report details bespoke LGBTQ+ service offers within Camden's commissioned drug and alcohol service, including a dedicated treatment pathway and a staff co-production group. It also outlines work on sexual health, including the Sexual Wellbeing and Reproductive Health Work Programme, and the development of the Intimate Lives Policy. Adult Social Care commissioners' focus on mental health support for LGBTQ+ residents, including trauma-informed approaches and peer support groups like Transpace and Queerspace, will also be discussed.

Mental Health Services: Crisis Pathways, Pressures and the Enlarged North London NHS Foundation Trust

This report will provide an overview of Camden's mental health crisis pathway, the pressures affecting its delivery, and the impact of the mergers that created and enlarged the North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT). It will describe how residents access urgent and crisis support, how community, hospital, and voluntary-sector services collaborate, and the benefits emerging from organisational integration, alongside remaining risks. The report highlights strong urgent crisis response and improving access, but also significant pressures in inpatient flow, length of stay, and discharge, particularly where housing and social care dependencies cause delays. Camden-specific information will be presented where available, distinguished from Trust-wide measures. The report details controls in place and further joint action required with Camden Council and system partners. The merger of Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust with Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, and the subsequent acquisition of Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, are discussed in terms of their impact on service integration and benefits for Camden residents.

Update of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care

The Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, Councillor Kemi Atolagbe, will provide an update on key areas within her portfolio. This will include information on sustained demand and pressures within Adult Social Care, particularly in Neighbourhoods and Mental Health services, and the focus on care and support reviews. The report will also cover safeguarding, noting increased activity linked to the return of mental health social work functions to the Council and the greater visibility of mental health-related concerns within safeguarding pathways. In health and wellbeing, the report will highlight the Annual Public Health Report on heart health, emphasising the importance of early detection of risk factors like high blood pressure and outlining recommendations for improvement. The installation of three Community Health & Wellbeing Pods in trusted community locations to offer free, self-service health checks will also be detailed. Additionally, an update on supporting people who drink alcohol at higher or harmful levels, including the Identification and Brief Advice training, will be provided.

Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee Work Programme and Action Tracker

The committee will review its work programme for 2026-27 and track actions from previous meetings. The work programme has been developed to reflect corporate priorities and identified areas of focus. The report will also include the work programmes of the Children, Schools and Families Scrutiny Committee, Housing Scrutiny Committee, and the Health and Wellbeing Board to identify any cross-cutting issues. The action tracker will provide an update on the progress of actions agreed at previous meetings, including the request for a report from the West and North London Integrated Care Board (ICB) and North London Foundation Trust in response to a deputation received in September 2026.