The Health and Wellbeing Board met on 13 October 2025 to discuss progress on health inequalities, flu vaccination uptake, a new sexual health strategy, and the NHS's 10-year plan. Key decisions included noting the progress of the Birmingham Lewisham African Caribbean Health Inequalities Review (BLACHIR) and agreeing to develop a neighbourhood health plan.

Birmingham Lewisham African Caribbean Health Inequalities Review (BLACHIR) Update

The Board received an update on the implementation of actions stemming from the Birmingham and Lewisham African Caribbean Health Inequalities Review (BLACHIR) report, with a particular focus on maternity, cancer screening, and the Lewisham Health Equity Teams.

The Lewisham Health Equity Teams (HET) programme, which aims to address health inequalities for Black African and Black Caribbean communities, is moving into its second cycle. This cycle will focus on reducing cardiovascular disease through culturally competent and trauma-informed care, delivered in partnership with voluntary and community sector organisations (VCSOs) and primary care. The first cycle of the HET programme, which involved 80 community champions and reached over 2,500 residents, was evaluated by the Health Innovation Network South London. The evaluation highlighted the need for stronger partnership working, clearer outcomes, and improved programme management. The second cycle has seen a more centralised recruitment process, with 13 Health Equity Fellow applications for six places, and has integrated the HET model into the Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) model of care. Training has been provided on trauma-informed care, racism in healthcare, and co-production.

The Lewisham Community Cancer Awareness projects, funded by the SEL Cancer Alliance, have been working with four VCSOs to improve cancer screening uptake among Black and racially minoritised communities. These projects, including workshops and awareness campaigns, reached at least 470 individuals and highlighted barriers such as mistrust of services and digital exclusion.

Updates were also provided on maternity outcomes, with colleagues from Lewisham and Greenwich Trust sharing progress on addressing health inequalities in this area. The Board was informed that a 3 year on report for BLACHIR would be published in November 2025, with a further agenda item dedicated to this at the next meeting.

Flu Vaccination and Winter Readiness

The Board noted the good progress being made on the plan to increase influenza vaccine uptake in Lewisham for Autumn/Winter 2025/26. Key actions include community co-design sessions to identify barriers, commissioning VCS organisations to target priority groups, patient outreach by Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs), and a comprehensive communications campaign. The plan aligns with the South East London (SEL) Immunisation Strategy and the Lewisham Immunisation Strategy 2023-25, with a focus on reducing inequalities and reaching underserved communities.

Uptake figures for the 2024/25 season showed an increase in pregnant women and birthing people receiving the flu vaccine, rising from 11% to 21%. Promising, though less dramatic, increases were also seen in the 65+ age group and at-risk groups within that demographic. Uptake in two and three-year-olds also saw a slight increase. The plan for 2025/26 includes continued community engagement, targeted communications, and efforts to improve access through various settings, including pharmacies and community hubs. The Board was asked to promote the influenza vaccine to their networks.

Lewisham, Lambeth, Southwark, Bromley and Bexley Sexual Health Strategy

The Board was presented with the new Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Strategy for 2025-2030, developed collaboratively by five South East London boroughs: Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bromley, and Bexley. This strategy builds on previous joint commissioning arrangements and aims to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes and reduce inequalities across the partnership.

The strategy is structured around four themes: Healthy and fulfilling sexual relationships; Improving reproductive health; Reducing the rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs); and Preventing and living well with HIV. It acknowledges the challenges of increasing STI rates, the need for improved reproductive health services, and the ambition to achieve 0-0-0 (zero HIV-related stigma, zero HIV transmissions, and zero HIV-related deaths). The strategy emphasises a focus on prevention, reducing inequalities, and improving service access, particularly for young people, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and Black heritage communities. The Board was asked to note the strategy and agree that Public Health would develop and implement a local action plan to support its delivery.

Better Care Fund

An update was provided on the Better Care Fund plan for 2025/26. The plan had been submitted and approved by NHS England, with a Section 75 Agreement in place. Quarter 1 monitoring returns for 2024/25 indicated positive performance in exceeding the target for care home admissions, with 20 fewer admissions than expected. While full data for emergency admissions and discharge delays was not yet available, initial indications suggested improved performance. The Board was asked to note the report.

NHS 10-Year Plan: Fit for the Future

The Board received an update on the new NHS 10-Year Plan, Fit for the Future, published in July 2025. The plan is built around three key shifts: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from treatment to prevention. It also outlines five underpinning enablers, including a new operating model for the NHS with an enhanced role for Health and Wellbeing Boards and a requirement to develop a Neighbourhood Health Plan.

The plan is broadly aligned with existing Lewisham strategies, including the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Local Care Partnership Five Year Plan. The focus on prevention and wider determinants of health presents an opportunity to accelerate the implementation of Lewisham's Neighbourhood Health Service. Due to the tight deadline for submitting the first Neighbourhood Health Plan in December 2025, the Board was asked to delegate approval of this plan to the Chair. The plan will initially utilise existing strategies, with scope for future updates. The analogue to digital shift was highlighted as a potential area of concern for digitally excluded populations, and an Equalities Impact Assessment will be conducted for the Neighbourhood Health Plan.