The Health and Wellbeing Board Information Briefing was scheduled to cover updates on dementia support, Bromley's Combating Drugs and Alcohol Partnership, the Stop Smoking Partnership, and the Joint Commissioning Board. The meeting was intended to provide information to the board members, with any discussion requiring a prior request.

Dementia Support Update

The board was scheduled to receive an update on dementia support in Bromley, highlighting the growing challenge of dementia, with a projected 40% increase in cases by 2045. The report indicated that dementia is a significant driver of admissions to long-term residential and nursing care, and that undiagnosed or unmanaged dementia contributes to unplanned hospital admissions and prolonged stays. The current provision was noted to focus mainly on individuals with a formal dementia diagnosis, with limited support for broader memory and cognition needs prior to a crisis.

A table presented data on the number of patients with dementia aged 65+ in South-East London as of February 2025, showing Bromley with 3,186 recorded cases and an estimated 4,486. The report also outlined how current services map onto a best practice dementia framework, covering preventing well, diagnosing well, supporting well, living well, and dying well.

A key element of the planned discussion was the Bromley Dementia Transformation Project 2026-28, a two-year initiative aimed at bringing together all dementia-related work. This project was intended to cover the re-procurement of the Dementia Hub, integration with memory clinics and neighbourhood-based care, and improved support for carers. The project's aim was to improve outcomes for residents with dementia and their carers, integrate specialist expertise into community services, reduce unnecessary A&E admissions, and ensure Bromley's dementia services are fit for the future. The governance structure for this transformation project was also to be presented.

Bromley's Combating Drugs and Alcohol Partnership Update

An update was scheduled on Bromley's Combating Drugs and Alcohol Partnership (CDAP), established in September 2022. The partnership's role is to provide strategic leadership to deliver the ambitions set out in the national drug strategy, 'From Harm to Hope'. The CDAP focuses on reducing drug and alcohol-related harm, preventing avoidable deaths, strengthening criminal justice pathways, supporting recovery through employment, and ensuring that intelligence, partnership collaboration, and lived experience inform local strategic decision-making.

Key areas of focus for the CDAP were outlined, including a Health and Justice Workstream aimed at strengthening pathways for individuals involved with the criminal justice system and ensuring continuity of care upon release from custody. The partnership also planned to develop a specific focus on women's experiences. An Outcomes Framework was to be reviewed to measure progress against strategic priorities and strengthen evidence-based decision-making. The Preventing Deaths and Reducing Harm Workstream, encompassing the Drug and Alcohol Related Deaths Panel (DARD) and the Local Drug Information System (LDIS), was also a priority, with plans to extend reviews beyond those known to treatment services and strengthen links with the Adults Safeguarding Board.

The report also highlighted alcohol harms reduction as a strategic priority, with a focus on supporting the introduction of comprehensive treatment pathways for excessive drinking and promoting digital tools for monitoring and reducing alcohol consumption. Prevention and support for young people were also to be addressed, aiming to strengthen early intervention and prevention activity to reduce the risk of drug and alcohol-related harm.

Bromley's Stop Smoking Partnership Update

The meeting was also scheduled to receive an update on the Bromley Stop Smoking Partnership, established in 2024 by Public Health. The partnership's key objective is to develop a community treatment pathway that integrates with existing primary and secondary care services, creating a comprehensive system for cessation support. The partnership convenes professionals from across the health and care system, including acute trusts, primary care, mental health services, maternity, community pharmacy, commissioned services, and public health, to provide expert advice and challenge.

The report detailed specific public health programmes and projects that have benefited from the Partnership's oversight. These included a Primary Care Clinical Audit for Smoking Cessation, which aimed to improve smoking status recording, the delivery of Very Brief Advice (VBA), and referrals to specialist support. The mobilisation of the SmokeFree Bromley Service, which re-established a specialist smoking cessation service after an eight-year gap, was also highlighted. This service had engaged 887 residents, with 481 setting a quit date and 286 achieving four-week quits. The partnership had also provided strategic oversight for this service, addressing implementation challenges and improving access to support.

Joint Commissioning Board Update

An update was scheduled on the work of the Joint Strategic Commissioning Board. This board provides leadership and strategic oversight for integrated commissioning programmes and processes undertaken jointly between the Council and the Southeast London Integrated Care Board (SELICB). Its responsibilities include leading integrated commissioning arrangements, supporting the Health and Wellbeing Board in delivering its strategy, overseeing joint resources, producing a Local Plan for the Better Care Fund (BCF), and developing a co-ordinated approach to managing the local provider market.

The report outlined the current work programme of the Board, which included supporting the One Bromley Local Care Partnership and Integrated Care System developments. Progress was noted on the Integrated Learning Disabilities Strategy 2025-2030 and the Integrated All Ages Mental Health Strategy 2025-2030. The Bromley Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) Transformation Programme, funded by the government, was also detailed, with the Mental Health Services Community Hub now fully operational. Other areas of work included the All Ages Autism Board Action Plan, the Integrated Therapies Programme, and initiatives related to hospital discharge and a Single Point of Access (SPA). The Board also oversees the Bromley allocation of funds for the Better Care Fund and Improved Better Care Fund, with the 2026/27 allocation being £45.7 million.