The Health and Wellbeing Board meeting scheduled for 10 March 2026 was set to discuss plans for the upcoming Housing and Homelessness Strategy, receive an update on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, and review recommendations regarding oral health in the borough. The meeting's agenda also included the confirmation of previous minutes and a report on the Housing and Homelessness Strategy.

Housing and Homelessness Strategy

The Board was scheduled to be informed about the plans for the 2026-31 Housing and Homelessness Strategy. This strategy aims to address the supply of high-quality homes, tackle homelessness and end rough sleeping, provide support for people with specific housing needs, ensure safe and sustainable homes, and foster resilient and vibrant neighbourhoods. The strategy is intended to align with other council plans, including the Local Plan, and will be subject to public consultation in summer 2026. Draft commitments within the strategy have been prepared with a focus on health and wellbeing, including building accessible homes, providing specialist support for those at risk of homelessness, and addressing issues such as damp and mould in council homes.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2026-2029

An update was scheduled regarding the refresh of the Greenwich Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) for the period 2026-2029. The Health and Wellbeing Board has a statutory responsibility to maintain and publish this assessment, which outlines the needs for pharmaceutical services within the borough. Healthy Dialogues has been commissioned to deliver this PNA. The report was expected to provide details on the progress of resident and provider surveys, and the ongoing 60-day public consultation on the draft PNA. The Board members were to have an opportunity to provide feedback, which would be incorporated into the consultation responses. The PNA assesses the current provision of pharmacies and commissioned services to determine if they meet the needs of the Greenwich population and identify any gaps. The assessment concluded that the Royal Borough of Greenwich is well-served regarding the number and location of pharmacies, with good access to necessary and other relevant services.

Oral Health

The Board was to receive an update on the oral health of Greenwich residents, including an outline of available data, current service provision, identified gaps, and recommendations. The report highlighted that oral health is a significant public health issue, particularly for children, with high and worsening rates of tooth decay and hospital-based extractions, especially in more deprived areas. The Community Dental Service is experiencing increased demand, with paediatric referrals up 40% from pre-pandemic levels. While local programmes address individual risk factors and a supervised toothbrushing programme has been funded, the report indicated a lack of an overarching, coordinated strategy. Recommendations included making oral health a core component of future health and wellbeing strategies, developing a comprehensive oral health strategy and work plan, continuing the supervised toothbrushing programme, and integrating oral health into the Healthy Early Years and Healthy Schools programmes. The report also noted that national proposals for overhauling NHS dentistry, including new incentives and investment in supervised toothbrushing programmes, are expected to be in place from April 2026.