The Health and Wellbeing Board at Barnet Council convened to discuss strategies for tackling substance misuse, suicide prevention, pharmaceutical needs, and safeguarding adults. The board approved the final draft of the Suicide Prevention Strategy 2026-2030 and the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment 2025-2028, and also noted the progress of the Combating Drugs Partnership and the Safeguarding Adults Board.

Tackling Substance Misuse in Barnet

The Health and Wellbeing Board received an update on the Tackling Substance Misuse in Barnet initiative, encompassing the Barnet Combating Drugs Partnership Board Annual Update and the Annual Director of Public Health Report 2025. Councillor Alison Moore, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, highlighted the significant impact of substance misuse on individuals, families, and communities, noting that the reports would also be presented to the Safer Communities Partnership Board. The Director of Public Health, Dr Janet Djomba, introduced her first annual report, emphasising the importance of addressing substance misuse through strategic and forward planning.

Kimberley, Quality and Governance Lead, and Elaine from Change Grow Live (CGL) presented an overview of CGL's services, including support for adults and young people, opiate-dependent clients, and various recovery programmes. Elaine shared her personal experiences with addiction and recovery, highlighting the challenges and the importance of support networks.

Councillor Pauline Coakley Webb, Cabinet Member for Family Friendly Barnet, raised concerns about engaging with family services and how to deal with individuals who choose not to engage. Other topics discussed included:

• Links between primary and secondary care
• Access to ambulance data
• The need for defined pathways
• Hospital admissions attributed to alcohol for those aged 55 and over
• The need to destigmatise substance misuse within individual communities
• Adulteration of drugs and the dangers that this poses to long-standing users
• Drug trafficking and drug possession data from the police
• Referral mechanisms on EMIS¹ and codes for alcohol
• NHS health checks and asking questions about lifestyles

The Health and Wellbeing Board formally noted the progress of the Combating Drugs Partnership and the Annual Director of Public Health Report 2025.

Suicide Prevention Strategy

The Health and Wellbeing Board considered the closure report and action plan for the 2021-2025 Suicide Prevention Strategy, alongside the final version of the 2026-2030 strategy. Sahar Sikihiki, author of the report, summarised the challenges of implementing the strategy, including rising risk factors due to the pandemic and cost of living. Despite these challenges, the report demonstrated a solid commitment to reducing suicide in Barnet through collective action.

The new strategy commits to embedding a public health approach to suicide prevention across all partners and addressing social determinants of suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

Councillor Beg raised a question about work with asylum seekers, and Rachel Wells, a consultant in public health, responded that training is provided to staff and volunteers in contingency hotels, with support from the Persian Advice Bureau and New Citizens Gateway. Jane Abbott added that support is also provided for surrounding schools for families connected to the hotels.

Dawn Wakeling, Executive Director, Communities, Adults and Health LBB, commented on the exceptional nature of the work and the need to ensure that good connections and joint work are not lost amid changes in public services. She also asked about taking the work further beyond the statutory sector.

The Health and Wellbeing Board noted the progress made in the last five years and approved the final Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2030.

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment

The Health and Wellbeing Board approved the 2025-2028 Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA). Dr Janet Djomba, Director of Public Health, explained that the PNA is a statutory requirement and provides a snapshot of pharmaceutical provision and needs. The high-level findings indicated no gaps in current provision but highlighted room for improvement in access to advanced and enhanced services.

The PNA highlighted that there are 71 community pharmacies in Barnet, including one LPS pharmacy². The PNA found that there are 17.6 community pharmacies per 100,000 population, compared with 18.3 per 100,000 in England.

The PNA also found that:

• There is reasonable provision and access to advanced services within Barnet.
• There is reasonable provision and access to enhanced services within Barnet.

Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report

The Health and Wellbeing Board noted the Barnet Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024-25. Dawn Wakeling, Executive Director, Communities, Adults and Health LBB, introduced the report in the absence of Leslie Hutchinson, Independent Chair of the Adults Safeguarding Board. She highlighted that the activity and trends are in line with national and peer group numbers, repeat concerns are very low, and there is good work between health and social care. Concerns were raised about changes to Healthwatch and the need to maintain strong working relationships with ICB colleagues.

Councillor Beg asked about the high number of neglect and acts of omission, and Dawn Wakeling explained that this is the highest frequency type of abuse nationally and encompasses a wide range of acts.

The Health and Wellbeing Board noted the Barnett Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024-25.

Forward Work Programme

The Health and Wellbeing Board noted the forward work programme, with the next meeting scheduled for 22 January. The meeting will include a deep dive into children and young people, neighbourhood health, special educational needs and disabilities, and the Better Care Fund.