The Health and Wellbeing Board meeting scheduled for 26 June 2025 was set to discuss a range of significant strategies and plans aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of Bromley residents. Key agenda items included the adoption of new strategies for mental health and wellbeing, learning disabilities, and suicide prevention, alongside a regional sexual health strategy and developments in neighbourhood care services. The Board was also scheduled to review its work programme and address any outstanding matters.

Bromley Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-30

The Board was scheduled to consider the proposed Bromley Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for 2025-30. This strategy, developed jointly by the London Borough of Bromley (LBB) and NHS South-East London Integrated Care Board (ICB), aims to provide a common vision for improving all-age mental health and wellbeing services. It is underpinned by a comprehensive needs assessment and has been developed with input from children, young people, and adults with mental health challenges. The strategy outlines five key priorities: targeted community prevention and early intervention services; supporting children and young people with complex needs; ensuring joined-up transitions from children's to adult services; improving recovery outcomes for those with long-term mental health challenges; and enhancing outcomes for older people with mental health challenges and dementia. An underpinning approach focuses on co-design, partnership working, and joined-up commissioning. The report noted that the previous strategy (2020-25) had seen successes including the roll-out of Mental Health Support Teams in schools, the establishment of an Integrated Single Point of Access, and a reduction in waiting times for children's mental health services. The new strategy aims to build on these foundations with a focus on prevention, early intervention, and community services, with a significant investment of £76.5m in 2024/25 for all-age mental health services.

Learning Disabilities Strategy 2025-30

A significant item on the agenda was the proposed Bromley Learning Disabilities Strategy for 2025-30. This integrated strategy, co-produced with people with learning disabilities, their families, and carers, aims to empower individuals to lead fulfilling and independent lives. It is built around five core themes: being positively prepared for adulthood, fostering community inclusion, improving physical and mental health outcomes, expanding housing with care options, and increasing access to learning, work, and independence. The strategy is informed by a needs assessment and extensive co-production work, with a vision to create a Bromley where people with learning disabilities are empowered to make choices, live in safe homes within their communities, have access to meaningful opportunities, and receive high-quality, person-centred support. The report highlighted that Bromley supports approximately 780 adults with a learning disability at a cost of around £67m per annum, with a projected increase in need. The strategy aims to increase opportunities for employment, education, and volunteering, and to improve access to local housing and community-based support.

Neighbourhood Health Service Development in Bromley

The Board was scheduled to receive an update on the development of neighbourhood health services in Bromley. This initiative aligns with national and London-wide guidance emphasizing neighbourhood-based service models to reduce demand, improve timely access to care, and address inequalities. The Case for Change highlights deep-seated economic and health inequalities driving increased pressure on local services, necessitating a shift towards neighbourhood health services. The Target Operating Model outlines ten core areas for enabling this shift, supported by an Integrator function within each borough to coordinate services, facilitate population health management, and drive equity. Bromley's vision for neighbourhood working is to deliver integrated services across health, social care, and voluntary and community organisations, focusing on prevention and care closer to home. The update was expected to detail Bromley's progress, initial focus populations, intervention models, and an indicative timeline for implementation.

Bromley Suicide Prevention Plan 2025-30

The meeting was set to discuss the Bromley Suicide Prevention Plan for 2025-30. This plan outlines Bromley's local approach to reducing suicide and self-harm, supporting those affected, and building a more compassionate community. It is a key priority within the Bromley Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Bromley Mental Health Strategy. Developed collaboratively with stakeholders, including individuals with lived experience, the plan has three main ambitions: to reduce the suicide rate in Bromley, improve support for people who have self-harmed, and enhance support for those bereaved by suicide. Priority areas for action include improving data and evidence, providing tailored support to priority groups (such as children and young people, men, and autistic individuals), addressing common risk factors like social isolation and financial difficulty, reducing access to means of suicide, and providing effective bereavement support. The plan aims to make suicide prevention everybody's business through public awareness campaigns, training, and employer toolkits.

SEL Sexual Health Strategy 2025-30

A draft of the Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley (LSLBB) Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Strategy 2025-30 was scheduled for review. This strategy aims to guide collaborative commissioning arrangements across the five boroughs to address significant sexual health challenges, including high rates of STIs and HIV. It focuses on reducing sexual health inequalities and achieving the Mayor of London's vision of 0-0-0 : zero HIV-related stigma, zero HIV transmissions, and zero HIV-related deaths. The strategy is built around four themes: healthy and fulfilling sexual relationships, improving reproductive health, reducing STI rates, and preventing and living well with HIV. It acknowledges the impact of wider determinants of health and emphasizes partnership working across South East London. The draft strategy has undergone public consultation, and a Bromley-level action plan will be developed following its finalisation.

Matters Outstanding and Work Programme

Finally, the Board was due to review its work programme and consider any matters outstanding from previous meetings. This included an update on the proposal for a new special free school in Bromley and the circulation of the full needs assessment for Bromley All-Age Mental Health and Adult Learning Disability services. The Board was asked to review its work programme to ensure it aligns with the Board's Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Terms of Reference.