The meeting considered and approved the Smokefree Generation Islington strategy, received an update on progress towards making Islington an Age Friendly Borough, and received an update on the North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB).

Smokefree Generation Islington

The board voted to approve the Smokefree Generation Islington plan.

The strategy aims to reduce the rate of smoking in Islington to below 5% of the population by 2030, making Islington a smoke-free borough.

The plan will focus on:

• Creating more smoke-free environments
• Providing more support for people to quit smoking
• Challenging the social acceptability of smoking
• Tackling illegal tobacco sales

Speaking in favour of the plan, one board member said:

I really welcome this strategy, I think it's bold and ambitious, and I think it's the right thing to be doing

The plan is in line with the council's Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2022-2026, which aims to reduce health inequalities and improve the health and wellbeing of all residents .

Age Friendly Islington

The meeting received an update on the progress being made by the Age Friendly Islington programme, which seeks to make Islington a more age-friendly borough.

Councillor Diarmaid Ward, the executive member responsible for health and wellbeing, noted that Islington's population is aging:

It's interesting that we are seeing this growth in the 65+ age group, with the over-85s being the fastest-growing age group in Islington

The board discussed the importance of involving older people in the design and delivery of services, and heard an update on the work being done to make Islington's public spaces more accessible for older people.

Age Friendly Islington is one of the eight priority areas identified in the Islington Health & Wellbeing Strategy 2022 – 2026, which was adopted by Islington Council in October 2022.

North Central London Integrated Care Board

The board received a presentation from an officer of the North Central London Integrated Care Board, explaining the ICB's operating model . The Integrated Care Board is a new NHS body with responsibility for planning and delivering healthcare services across the five boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington.

The board discussed the ICB's priorities, which include improving access to mental health services, reducing waiting times for elective surgery, and tackling health inequalities.

The meeting also discussed the ICB’s work on developing a new model of care for people with long-term conditions, and the challenges it faces in recruiting and retaining staff.