The Health and Wellbeing Board of Southwark Council met on Thursday 14 March 2024 to discuss a range of critical public health issues. Key decisions included the agreement to develop a Southwark Anti-Poverty Action Plan and the noting of the South East London Integrated Care Board's Joint Forward Plan refresh. The Board also reviewed research on health inequalities, a health protection report, and a supplementary statement on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment.

Health & Wellbeing Board Roles, Functions and Membership

The Board discussed its evolving role and membership, agreeing to focus more on the wider determinants of health, such as poverty, climate, and air quality. Proposed changes to the membership were agreed, including the addition of the Strategic Director of Environment, Neighbourhoods & Growth, and the removal of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. These changes aim to strengthen the Board's influence on agendas that significantly impact residents' health and wellbeing.

Impact on Urban Health: Inequalities Research

Research commissioned by Impact on Urban Health, in collaboration with Southwark Public Health Division and Lambeth, was presented to the Board. The research, involving a quantitative survey of over 5,000 residents and focus groups, highlighted significant health inequalities within Southwark and Lambeth. Key findings indicated that financial security, education level, housing tenure and conditions, ethnicity, gender, and LGBTQ+ status are major influences on an individual's likelihood of being in good health. The research also revealed disparities in health influenced by structural discrimination, trust in and access to healthcare, housing quality, and broader social and economic determinants. The Board was recommended to note these findings and assess future policy and service decisions against the experiences and concerns identified.

Development of a Southwark Anti-Poverty Action Plan

The Board agreed to establish a Southwark Anti-Poverty Action Plan as part of its joint response to the ambitions of Southwark 2030. This plan will provide a framework for tackling poverty, which is recognised as a significant determinant of poor health. A task-and-finish group will be established to develop the first iteration of the plan, with representatives to be identified and a review scheduled for November 2024. The plan aims to coordinate existing efforts across the borough to address poverty and its far-reaching impacts on residents' lives.

Health Protection Report 2022/23: Summary for the Health and Wellbeing Board

A summary of the Health Protection Report for 2022/23 was presented, outlining health protection activities, incidents, challenges, and achievements. The report highlighted the significant scale of health protection threats, including emerging illnesses, vaccine-preventable infections, adverse weather, antimicrobial resistance, and chemical hazards, noting that the impact of climate change is likely to amplify many of these. The Board noted the findings and agreed to receive an annual health protection report.

South East London Integrated Care Board Joint Forward Plan – 2024/25 Refresh

The Board reviewed the draft refresh of the South East London Integrated Care Board (SEL ICB) Joint Forward Plan for 2024/25. This plan outlines how the health needs of the population will be met over the next five years. The Southwark borough section of the plan aligns with the priorities of the Southwark Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy, focusing on areas such as a whole-family approach to children's development, healthy employment, early identification and support, strong communities, and the integration of health and social care. The Board confirmed that the refreshed plan continues to take proper account of the local Health & Wellbeing Strategy.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2022–25 Supplementary Statement 1

The Board noted the first Supplementary Statement to the Southwark Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2022–25. This statement summarised changes in local pharmacy ownership and new Census 2021 data on population changes. The four changes in local pharmacy ownership were not anticipated to affect local pharmaceutical service provision. The Census 2021 data indicated an increase in Southwark's population since 2011, with a notable rise in older adults, though the overall increase was less than predicted. These changes do not alter the original PNA's assessment of pharmaceutical service need or provision.