The City of London Health and Wellbeing Board met on 19 September 2025, to discuss the Better Care Fund, a pharmaceutical needs assessment, and the City and Hackney Healthy Weight Action Plan. The board also received updates on Healthwatch City of London and suicide prevention in the City of London.

Better Care Fund

The board approved the Better Care Fund (BCF) end of year 2024/25 return and the Quarter 1 2025/26 progress report. The Better Care Fund programme supports the integration of health and social care. The fund is based on a pooled budget from Integrated Care Boards and local authorities. The City Corporation is required to report quarterly on progress with the plans, and these progress reports must be approved by the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The report noted that for 2024/25, the total pooled budget was £1,435,838, of which £357,283 was spent on adult social care (ASC) services, exceeding the minimum requirement of £172,763. For 2025/26, the total pooled budget is £1,505,755, with £374,076 spent on ASC services, again exceeding the minimum requirement of £175,544.

The 2024/25 end of year report showed that all mandatory conditions were met, but only one out of four metrics were met. The report attributed this to fluctuations due to a small cohort and the way the metrics are calculated. An underspend was caused by the Disabled Facilities Grant Fund, but a new Housing Assistance Policy and Home Improvement Agency have been introduced to use the fund more flexibly.

The Q1 2025/26 return indicated that all mandatory conditions were met, and expenditure is currently on target. No changes were proposed to any areas.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment

The board approved the draft of the City of London Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025-2028 for publication. The NHS Act 2006 requires Health and Wellbeing Boards to develop and update a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA). The PNA provides an overview of the demographics, health and wellbeing needs of the City of London's population, and captures views on pharmacy services. It assesses whether the current provision of pharmacies meets the needs of City residents, and identifies any gaps.

The PNA concluded that there is good access to necessary services, with no gaps identified in the current and future provision of these services. No substantial differences were found between groups with protected characteristics in how they access their pharmacies or what they use them for.

City and Hackney Healthy Weight Action Plan

The board received an update on progress with refreshing City and Hackney's 'whole system' approach to promoting healthy weight[^1]. The report also provided an overview of the current situation with access to weight loss medication.

The report outlined two key workstreams being progressed:

• Co-designing a new approach to healthy weight support, to inform future investment and commissioning decisions.
• Healthy weight capacity building, to strengthen professional and community capabilities to promote healthy weight, tackle weight stigma, and improve access to healthy food and physical activity opportunities.

The report set out a range of potential opportunities for action that could be progressed in the City, in support of the six high level themes within the healthy weight delivery plan.

The report noted that access to new weight loss medications via the NHS is limited, and there are some safety concerns around their longer-term use.

Healthwatch City of London Progress Report

The board received a report from Gail Beer, Healthwatch City of London Chair, detailing the work of Healthwatch City of London for Q2 2025/26.

The report noted that the Healthwatch team continue to operate from the Portsoken Community Centre and through hybrid working. The team are recruiting for a new role which will incorporate communications, engagement, volunteer management and project management.

The report detailed Healthwatch's ongoing projects, including a project on access to urgent care across the City, and support to the City of London Corporation through the Adult Social Care Advisory Group.

The report also detailed Healthwatch's Enter and View Programme, including an Enter and View visit to the Neaman Practice[^2].

The report noted Healthwatch's communications and engagement activities, including the publication of Healthwatch City of London Annual Report 2024/25 'Making it Matter' [^3].

The report detailed Healthwatch's events, including patient panels on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, ovarian and womb cancer, and diet and nutrition.

The report also noted Healthwatch's involvement in the Neighbourhoods Engagement Forum and Portsoken Community Engagement.

Suicide Prevention in the City of London Annual Update

The board received a report on suicide prevention in the City of London. The report provided an update on the suicide prevention action plan, as well as data on attempted suicides and suicides occurring in the City of London.

The report noted that between 1 January 2024 and 31 March 2025, there had been 11 suicides and 140 attempted suicides in the City of London. The majority of attempted suicides occurred during the night, and bridges remain the most common location type. Most individuals attempting suicide were aged between 18 and 29, and females represented a higher proportion of attempted suicides than in previous years.

The report provided an update on the Bridge Watch volunteer patrol programme, which has been operating since December 2023. The programme has provided over 1000 hours of patrol, and has intervened in 85 incidents.

The report summarised progress on the Suicide Prevention Action Plan, noting that 69 actions have commenced since the launch of the plan, of which 12 are completed and 57 are in progress.

The report also provided an update on the enhanced Suicide Prevention Action Plan, including the appointment of a suicide prevention planning officer, the development of a Suicide Prevention Charter, and more focused engagement with Financial and Professional Services in the Square Mile.

[1]: A 'whole system' approach involves bringing stakeholders together to develop a shared understanding of the challenge and integrate action to bring about sustainable, long-term systems change. [2]: The Neaman Practice is a GP practice located in the City of London. [3]: The Healthwatch City of London Annual Report 2024/25 'Making it Matter' can be found on the council's website.