The Health and Wellbeing Board of Harrow Council met on Thursday 12 March 2026 to discuss a range of public health matters. Key topics included an assessment of tuberculosis (TB) health needs in the borough, strategies for early homelessness prevention, and an update on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) work plan. The Board was also scheduled to receive an overview of the community equipment service and discuss proposals for the relocation of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.

Tuberculosis Health Needs Assessment

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the increasing impact of Tuberculosis (TB) in Harrow. The report presented highlighted that Harrow has the second-highest incidence of TB of any local authority in England, with a notable increase since 2018. The assessment indicated that 95% of active TB cases in Harrow between January 2023 and December 2025 were in individuals born outside the UK, with a particular rise in those born in India who had been in the UK for less than five years. The report also noted an increase in TB cases with drug resistance.

The report outlined several recommendations for the Board's endorsement:

• Raising awareness of the Health Needs Assessment and disseminating it among relevant networks and communities.
• Partnering with the North West London Integrated Care Board to explore supplementary routes for the Latent TB Infection screening programme, such as occupational, educational, or community-based screening.
• Endorsing a request to London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust to collaborate with Public Health to ensure sufficient secondary and community-based resources are available to address TB challenges in Harrow.

Early Homelessness Prevention

The Board was provided with an overview of existing and planned activities for early homelessness prevention, delivered by the newly formed Business Transformation and Outreach team within the Housing division. This work aligns with the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030, focusing on partnership working, early advice and support, and assisting households in accessing suitable housing.

The report detailed efforts to build capacity and resilience through partnership working, including the Harrow Homelessness Reduction Board and its Operational Subgroup. Analysis of homelessness applications data has led to segmented risk group profiles to identify those most at risk and their support needs. The team is also working to implement the LIFT (Low Income Family Tracker) dashboard to proactively identify households affected by welfare reforms. Outreach and engagement activities include developing tailored housing support and advice through community channels and designing engaging materials in consultation with the voluntary and community sector.

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) Work Plan

An update was provided on the work plan for Harrow's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), a statutory responsibility shared by Harrow Council and local NHS commissioners. The JSNA, also known as the Health and Wellbeing Profile, serves as a primary reference source for the borough's health and care needs.

The JSNA work programme is guided by the JSNA Steering Group and includes various needs assessments and research projects. The current work plan features topics such as homelessness, SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), sexual health, learning disability and autism, mental health, and the 0-19s age group. The report highlighted the launch of a new interactive web platform for the JSNA, insights.harrow.gov.uk, which aims to provide accessible information and data dashboards.

Community Equipment Service Overview

The Board received an overview of the community equipment service in Harrow. The service was recommissioned in September 2025 following the compulsory liquidation of the previous provider, NRS Healthcare. Harrow Council, as part of the North London Equipment Partnership with seven other councils, has contracted with Provide Care Solutions.

The report detailed the end-to-end service provided by Provide, covering provision, delivery, installation, maintenance, and recycling of equipment. It noted an increase in expenditure on community equipment services, attributed to rising demand, inflation, and over-prescription. The report also highlighted the financial split between Harrow Council and the North West London Integrated Care Board (ICB) for funding the service, with discussions underway to adjust this to a more common 30% local authority/70% ICB split. The challenges faced during the transition from NRS Healthcare to Provide were outlined, along with the current performance of the new provider.

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre

Proposals for the relocation of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood to a site adjacent to Watford General Hospital were presented. The report explained the rationale for the move, citing concerns from a 2019 Independent Clinical Advisory Group regarding the safety and sustainability of delivering high-quality oncology services at the current site, which lacks essential medical services like A&E and intensive care.

A public consultation is currently underway until 29 March 2026 on these proposals, which include relocating the centre to a purpose-built facility at Watford General Hospital, run by University College London Hospitals (UCLH). The proposals also encompass care closer to home initiatives, such as additional chemotherapy chairs at Northwick Park and an expansion of the chemotherapy at home service. The report detailed three main options for the future of the cancer centre, primarily differing in the proposed location of an additional radiotherapy unit. The Board was asked to discuss the proposals, consider making a supportive response to the consultation, and advise on further activities to engage Harrow residents.