The Health and Wellbeing Board met on 26 June 2025 to discuss and note several key strategies and plans aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Bromley residents. Decisions were made regarding the Bromely Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the Learning Disabilities Strategy, and the SEL Sexual Health Strategy, all of which were noted by the Board.

Bromley Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-30

The Board considered the final version of the Bromley Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-30, which had been agreed by the Council's Executive the previous evening. This strategy builds on the successes of the previous plan, with a continued focus on prevention and early intervention. It outlines five key priorities: more targeted community prevention and early intervention services; helping children and young people with more complex needs to thrive; joined-up, safe transitions from children's to adult's mental health and wellbeing services; better recovery outcomes for people with long-term mental health challenges; and improved outcomes for older people with mental health challenges and dementia. Board members noted the strategy and discussed the importance of addressing issues such as sustaining employment and the assessment of digital tools. The Associate Director of Integrated Commissioning acknowledged the suggestion for further work on prevention to be considered as an addendum to the report later in the year.

Learning Disabilities Strategy 2025-30

The Board also considered the final version of the Learning Disabilities Strategy 2025-30, which had also been agreed by the Council's Executive. This strategy was developed in collaboration with the South East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) and involved experts from the Ideas Alliance working with residents with learning disabilities and their carers. The strategy's core conclusion was that people with learning disabilities want relationships, purpose and to feel part of community life like anyone else. They want innovative support to help them live independently and fully. The strategy was developed in close collaboration with the Housing Department, and a new Housing with Care Board will be established to ensure better coordination. Work has also been undertaken with the Council's Economic Development Team regarding new employment schemes. The strategy addresses themes including being positively prepared for adulthood, community inclusion, healthy living, suitable housing, and learning and work opportunities. The Board noted the report.

Neighbourhood Health Service Development in Bromley

Mark Cheung, Programme Director for One Bromley, and Elliott Ward, Associate Director for Strategy Development and Delivery, presented on the development of neighbourhood care and health services. They highlighted the need to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach, with neighbourhood working to be rolled out starting in the South West of the borough. This approach will involve localising services and resources, with Health Centres playing a role in providing differential offers. The presentation discussed the challenge of balancing equity with equal access for all, and how the South East London ICB, in collaboration with local authorities and third sector partners, is working to identify resources that can be released and reallocated. The model for neighbourhood working is based on the footprint of Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and aims to provide care closer to home, more joined-up across health and with partners, and using data to be more proactive. The Board noted the update.

Suicide Prevention Plan 2025-30 and Action Plan

The Board received a presentation on the Bromley Suicide Prevention Plan 2025-30. The plan outlines three ambitions for the next five years: to reduce the suicide rate in Bromley, to improve support for people who have self-harmed, and to improve support for people bereaved by suicide. The plan identifies priority areas for action, including improving data and evidence, providing tailored support to priority groups, addressing common risk factors, reducing access to means of suicide, providing effective bereavement support, and making suicide prevention everybody's business. The Senior Project Officer noted that rates per 100,000 people had increased, and that while intentional self-harm hospital admissions had decreased this year, suicide and self-harm are coded separately. The plan will focus on priority groups, interventions, and signposting people to support. The Board resolved to note the Bromley Suicide Prevention Plan 2025-30 and agreed to its formal launch on 10 September 2025 as part of the Month of Hope.

SEL Sexual Health Strategy

The Board received a presentation on the Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley And Bromley (LSLBB) Sexual And Reproductive Health And HIV Draft Strategy 2025-2030. This shared strategy has been developed by the Public Health departments of the five boroughs to guide effective collaborative commissioning arrangements. The draft strategy has been in consultation with residents and professionals, and the final strategy will be published in Autumn 2025, followed by joint LSLBB and Bromley-level action plans. The strategy focuses on four themes: healthy and fulfilling sexual relationships; improving reproductive health; reducing the rates of sexually transmitted infections; and preventing and living well with HIV. The Board noted the draft LSLBB strategy and resolved that a Bromley-level action plan will be developed by LBB Public Health following the finalisation of the strategy.

Questions on the Health and Wellbeing Board Information Briefing

The Board noted the Information Briefing, which comprised two reports: the Better Care Fund Performance update Q4 2024-25 and the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment Consultation.

Matters Outstanding and Work Programme

The Board considered its work programme for 2025/26 and matters arising from previous meetings. The Director of Public Health advised that pandemic preparedness would be included in the Annual Health Protection Report, and that childhood obesity data would be included in the Children's JSNA. It was noted that two pilot schemes had commenced on 1 April 2025, which would be evaluated after their first year. The Director of Public Health agreed to see if any forecast data on childhood obesity could be provided to Board Members following the meeting. The Board resolved to note the work programme and matters arising from previous meetings.