The Health and Wellbeing Board of Brent Council was scheduled to discuss a range of topics aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of residents. Key agenda items included an overview of inequalities within Brent, the annual Public Health report, and an update on the Brent Health Matters programme. The board was also set to review progress on working together in neighbourhoods.

Overview of Inequalities and Actions

The meeting was scheduled to include a presentation on Brent's efforts to tackle inequalities. This would have involved presenting key data on inequalities within the borough, comparing it to regional and national figures. The presentation was also intended to highlight best practices in addressing inequalities and outline how these could be used to further develop the council's approach to tackling health inequalities.

Public Health Annual Report

A presentation on the Public Health Annual Report (PHAR) was scheduled. This report was expected to detail how Public Health in Brent is addressing health inequalities through community-centred approaches. The focus was to be on community engagement, social capital, and the concept of Radical Place Leadership.

Brent Health Matters Impact and Learning

An update on the Brent Health Matters adults' programme was planned, focusing on its impact and outcomes. The report was to cover the programme's achievements, the challenges encountered, and its future plans. The Brent Health Matters programme was established in September 2020, following the first wave of COVID-19, during which Brent experienced a disproportionately high number of cases and deaths. Funding for the clinical and mental health teams came from the North West London Integrated Care Board (NWL ICB), while funding for the council-employed team and Health Educators was provided by a Public Health grant. Funding for the Children and Young People (CYP) team was allocated by NWL ICB and was due to conclude in March 2026, with a business case being prepared for ongoing funding.

The programme has engaged with community organisations, with data showing a consistent increase in the number of organisations involved and their level of participation over the years. Community grants totalling £900,000 have been awarded across three rounds, with a further round under evaluation. The report indicated that for the 2024/25 grants round, 50% of attendees experienced a significant improvement due to the services provided, and 36% experienced a fair amount of improvement.

Data from community outreach events showed a significant number of attendees receiving health checks and being seen by the mental health team. The report also detailed the number of residents escalated to their GPs for potential diagnoses of long-term conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. For instance, between January and September 2025, 102 people were escalated for high blood pressure, leading to 15 diagnoses. Similarly, 100 people were escalated for high blood sugar levels between February and September 2025, resulting in 10 diagnoses. The report highlighted that these diagnoses would not have occurred without the input of the Brent Health Matters programme.

The Mental Health team's work included attending outreach events, engaging with residents, signposting them to services, conducting one-to-one consultations, and holding co-produced mental health workshops. The report also presented clinical outcomes for diabetes and hypertension management, showing improvements in key care processes and a reduction in the percentage of hypertension patients without a blood pressure reading in the last 12 months. Furthermore, the programme aimed to close the inequality gap in bowel cancer screening uptake, with a reported reduction of 3.4% over two years. Health Educators provided case management support for individuals with prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes, with 96% showing an overall average improvement in their goals, particularly in managing health online. The programme also supported residents with GP and NHS App registrations.

The Children and Young People team's work included efforts to reduce A&E attendance for asthma-related issues, with a reported 40% reduction compared to the previous year. They also focused on immunisation projects and mental health support for young people, including developing a directory of services and running Chat and Chill sessions.

Working Together in Neighbourhoods

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on the progress and next steps in developing a coordinated approach to neighbourhood working between Brent Council and the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP). This initiative aims to foster collaboration and streamline services at a local level.

Health and Wellbeing Board Forward Look - Future Agenda Items

Members were to be given the opportunity to suggest future agenda items for the Health and Wellbeing Board. It was noted that there were two more meetings in the current municipal cycle and political administration. Suggestions included a deep dive into health inequalities in Brent, considering the impact of new health service structures and the work of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and Brent Health Matters. The Public Health Annual Report was also to be brought to a future Board meeting.