The Redbridge Health and Wellbeing Board met on 15 September 2025, and members approved the publication of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment and noted the findings of the Substance Use Health Needs Assessment, endorsing the progression of work in this area. The board also received verbal updates on public health, adult social care and community health, the Redbridge Borough Partnership, the voluntary and community sector, and Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trust (BHRUT) Hospitals.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment

The Health and Wellbeing Board approved the publication of the Redbridge Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, which is required by all local authorities every three years to evaluate the needs of the borough regarding community pharmacy provision and assess whether these needs are being met.

The report concluded that there is no current gap in the provision of necessary services during normal working hours or outside of normal working hours, and no gap identified in the need for necessary services against future circumstances across the borough. It also found no gap in the provision of advanced or enhanced services at present that would improve access in the borough.

The PNA noted that Redbridge has 53 community pharmacies, with an average of 17 community pharmacies per 100,000 population, slightly lower than the national (18.3) and London (19.4) average.

The assessment examined provision of necessary services (considered the baseline level of services), advanced services, and national enhanced services¹. Necessary services cover:

• Dispensing and repeat dispensing of medications
• Support for self-care
• Signposting patients to other healthcare professionals
• Participation in public health campaigns
• Disposal of unwanted medicines
• Discharge medicines service
• Healthy Living Pharmacies
• Dispensing of appliances

The report recognised the importance of PNAs for the Integrated Care Board in assessing applications for inclusion in the local pharmaceutical list.

Substance Use Health Needs Assessment

The Health and Wellbeing Board noted the key findings and recommendations from the Substance Use Health Needs Assessment and endorsed the progression of work in this area. The assessment aimed to increase understanding of the need for drug and alcohol services amongst the Redbridge population and provide insight into how existing services are used by residents, to inform recommendations for service planning and commissioning.

The report highlighted inequalities amongst residents who use substances, and some of the barriers to accessing and engaging with treatment. It also emphasised the strengths of prevention, early intervention and treatment approaches in Redbridge, and the strong partnership working which has helped maintain and strengthen substance use services in the borough.

The HNA identified that women, people of Asian ethnic backgrounds, and younger adults appeared to be underrepresented in treatment in Redbridge. Engagement work highlighted challenges facing parents in the borough (such as insufficient childcare), older adults (who may have complex physical and mental health needs), and rough sleepers (who often experience the most extreme health inequalities). Stigma was repeatedly raised as a barrier to care, with some reporting a fear of being recognised by other members of their community when accessing support.

The report made a number of recommendations, including:

• Increase support for parents in treatment
• Exploring the use of targeted interventions to support specific cohorts
• Improving access and awareness of substance use services
• Addressing physical and mental health challenges amongst those who use substances
• Addressing the wider determinants of health
• Improving data intelligence related to substance use, ensuring the voice of service users is represented in all needs assessments
• Navigating the challenges related to social media and misinformation
• Supporting high-risk young people affected by substance use (including looked after children and YP affected by exploitation)
• Increasing partnership working to strengthen prevention and early intervention approaches across the borough
• Exploring the potential of transitional care in substance use to support young people as they transition to adult services

The recommendations also link to other ongoing work in Public Health. For example, social prescribing in Redbridge is currently being reviewed, and as a result of this HNA, the council will explore the role of social prescribing as a bridge for people exiting treatment so that they can find new community groups and support following recovery. In addition, they are currently collaborating with young people in the borough to develop resources that can support parents and those working with young people to facilitate 'confident conversations' about vaping.

An Equality Impact Assessment screening was undertaken for the HNA, which identified a number of recommendations that seek to reduce health inequalities and differential adverse health outcomes by protected characteristic.

Social Care and Health Systems Verbal Updates

The Health and Wellbeing Board received a number of verbal updates.

Gladys Xavier, Director of Public Health at the Council, provided an update on public health, including information on Covid-19, flu, measles, heat alerts, travel health advice and planning for future pandemics.

Pauline Goffin, Interim Integrated Care Director, presented a report on Adult Social Care and Community Health, including information on a SEND Ofsted inspection, an imminent Adult Social Care Inspection, pressures across the system in NELFT, and a spotlight on NELFT in the media around the recent corporate manslaughter court case.

Jeremy Kidd, Head of Live Well, Deputy Place Director, presented a report on the Redbridge Borough Partnership, including information on the implications of the ICB reorganisation for the London Borough of Redbridge and the status of the work around establishing the Integrated Neighbourhood Teams.

Dr Andrew Deaner, Chief Medical Officer for Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge University Trust (BHRUT) presented an update on BHRUT Hospitals, including information on the elective Hub at King George Hospital, performance in the Telegraph, Emergency Department (ED) performance, maternity care, mental health patients, finance, and the implementation of an electronic patient records system.

Forward Plan

The Board reviewed the forward plan for the rest of the municipal year. Councillor Mark A. Santos, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, and Co-operative Party, Chair of the meeting, asked members to send him any ideas that they had for themes and groups that could be invited for future meetings. He noted the request for inclusion of an item on the SEND inspection, which would be discussed with officers.

The following items were proposed for inclusion in the forward plan:

• RSCP Annual Scrutiny Report 2024-25 RSAB Annual Report 2024-25
• Community CAMHS Roles - Expanded Community Continence Provisions & Self-harm Lead Roles
• Womens Health Project Work
• BCF 2024-25 End of Year & Q1 & Q2 2025-26 Progress Submissions
• Carers Charter Action Plan Progress
• Health & Wellbeing Strategy Action Plan Progress
• BCF Q3 2025-26 Progress Submission
• Obesity Strategy
• Children & Young Peoples Market Position Statement

Dates of Future Meetings

The board noted the dates of future meetings as:

• 17 November 2025
• 23 February 2026
• 27 April 2026