Publications and guidance:

• NHS England have published the Medium Term Planning Framework to support planning across Systems.
• The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is currently being considered by parliament. Whilst there is good evidence for policy in several areas, there are some topics that further evidence is being sought. As such, there is a call for evidence currently open that runs until 3rd December 2025.
• NHS England are in the process of rolling out a new long-acting injection for people at risk of HIV but unable to take pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) tablets. Read more about it here.
• Statistics on the English indices of deprivation 2025 have been released which provide an update to the English indices of deprivation 2019. This also includes various summaries (for example, ICB summaries).
• National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) have shared guidance around tobacco dependence treatment for people with severe mental illness with best practice recommendations and guiding principles that have been drawn from published literature and clinical experience.
• The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) have published a report on investing in prevention that offers a practical step-by-step guide for public sector organisations to map and measure preventative spend and investment.
• NHS England has published a request for action on racism including antisemitism. The request is aimed at System partners in implementing initiatives that support our shared committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and professional environment for everyone.
• The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) have released guidance on promoting work as a health outcome for Allied Health Professional leaders.

Prevention:

• West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership have published a report exploring the human, social and economic cost of obesity for the West Yorkshire, Humber and North Yorkshire ICB populations. The 'More Than Weight: Exploring the human, social and economic cost of obesity' report contains recommendations and infographics as well as the research methodology that went into pulling it together.
• The SE region Prevention and Healthcare Inequalities team hosted a regional Tobacco Community of Practice event on the 16th October. The session had a focus on pharmacotherapy. The recording along with resources can be found here.
• Several Tobacco related resources have been added to Future NHS this month. They are summarised for convenience here:
  • Presentations delivered at the National Smoking in Pregnancy Community of Practice, Inpatient tobacco dependence: Physical acute peer support session and Mental Health Inpatient Tobacco Dependence Peer Support Session have been uploaded and can now be sorted by name which will show all recent additions at the top.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) have released a report on global trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030.
• Alcohol Change UK have shared findings from an evaluation conducted by Buckinghamshire Council’s Blue Light Approach, which aims to better support those living with severe alcohol dependence.
• The Scottish Government has released data that shows the number of alcohol specific deaths to have fallen by 7% in Scotland to 1,185 in 2024. The data has been contextualised with some of the policy decisions that may have led to this decrease.
• NHS England has published the latest Statistics on Local Stop Smoking Services in England - April 2025 to June 2025 (Q1).
• The Smoking Profile on Fingertips has been updated for October 2025 including 3 indicators about smoking quitters:
  • 1) Proportion of local smoking population who set a quit date
  • 2) Proportion of those setting a quit date who successfully quit smoking
  • 3) Proportion of local smoking population who successfully quit smoking
• National colleagues have shared an evidence pack with slides aimed at supporting commissioners, regional leads and other colleagues working on tobacco dependence to help set out how the current NHS priorities and strategic drivers can be realised through delivery of tobacco dependence treatment services.

Health inequalities:

• The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a press release around the review of the GP funding formula, which is expected to deliver fairer distribution of funding and address health inequalities.
• TransActual have published a report on UK Healthcare Worker’s experiences, confidence and comfort supporting trans patients
• Highlighting the Health Inequalities Improvement Programme page on the FutureNHS platform that is dedicated to tools and resources relating to the Core20 most deprived population. This ranges from guidance, tools, research and reports and includes ICS Deprivation Heat Maps, which may be of use to colleagues.
• As part of ongoing work to improve ethnicity recording, there are several case studies available on the FutureNHS platform on work that has been done in this area: Case Studies - Improving Ethnicity Recording
• The Health Anchors Learning Network have shared the work going on in Suffolk and North East Essex ICS in creating a system-wide approach to anchor impact measurement
• A rapid read for staff working with young people who are seeking asylum. This has been developed following concerns shared in region and from other regions about the use of medicines by these young people. Input was sough from a wide range of colleagues including Regional Controlled Drugs Officer, Designated Doctors and Nurses, Migration Partnership Principal Social Worker, Barnardo’s, Home Office accommodation provider safeguarding leads, Public Health Consultants and substance use experts.

Training, learning opportunities and events:

• Resources and training are available via the Futures NHS Platform from The Faculty for Value Based Care. These resources provides health and care leaders with insight, resources and learning to better understand and implement ‘value-based care’ in their roles. The work has been supported by Sir Muir Gray and by learning from the Oxford Value and Stewardship Programme, offering information and tools to support leaders to champion a culture of stewardship, drive allocative efficiency, and minimise waste across the NHS.
• Webinar: Addressing Health Inequalities for Women on Probation
  • 25 November @ 12:00 – 13:30 (online)
  • This webinar will give clinical insights and real-world perspectives as well as offering an opportunity for reflective practice and finding collaborative solutions.
  • Registration and further details can be found here
• Webinar: Celebrating success: one year of the National Smoke-free Pregnancy Incentives Scheme
  • 26 November @ 10am – 11:30am (online)
  • This event is for anyone involved in or supporting delivery of the scheme
  • Registration and more details can be found here
• The Health Foundation are hosting some webinars that may be of interest:
  • Driving better health through English devolution, which will bring together colleagues from strategic authorities and their partners from across England to explore how regional leadership can drive better health outcomes - Wednesday 5 November 2025, 10.00–16.00 - Free, in-person event, Register here
  • Understanding preventative investment: how to map and measure spend, with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) for the launch of its report on preventative investment in local government - Thursday 6 November 2025, 13.30–14.30 - Free, in-person event, Book now
• The South East Health Innovation Networks are hosting a series of webinars on different aspects of heart failure between September and November. Registrations are still open, links below:
  • Heart Failure: Frailty/End of Life and HF in Younger Patients - 27 November, 12pm – 1pm (online) - Register here
• OHID colleagues are hosting further webinars as part of their Public Health Intelligence webinar series:
  • Fingertips Plus - 18th November 2025 @ 1:30pm-3pm (online)
  • PHI/Exchange – 19th November 2025 @10 am – 12:30pm (online)
  • Introduction to Fingertips – 10th December 2025 @ 1:30pm-3pm (online)

Other useful links:

• Call for evidence outcome around the National TB action plan has been published (current 2021-2026 here: Tuberculosis (TB): action plan for England
• The Local Knowledge and Intelligence Service evaluation framework has recently been launched on PHI/Online. The framework has been designed to help plan evaluation of intelligence outputs, but also provides general guidance on evaluation. You can take a look at the framework in our PHI/Online Resources section. The framework also includes a Discussion Forum for you to post any questions on evaluation, along with a Resource Library, which we are hoping will develop into a useful resource with guidance and examples of evaluation. If you have any queries about the framework, please contact LKIS@dhsc.gov.uk. (Announcement: launch of new evaluation framework for intelligence outputs - Public Health Intelligence Online - Futures)

Publications and guidance:

• NICE have published an updated quality standard on overweight and obesity management, which includes a series of quality statements on prevention, behavioural management, assessment, and treatment of overweight, obesity and central adiposity in children and young people aged over 2 years, and adults. The quality standard also covers established comorbidities, and those with risk factors for other medical conditions. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement
• A summary of the results from the Better Health: Rewards pilot is now available. The summary finds that overall, the results showed a small but statistically significant impact of financial incentives on physical activity and some diet behaviours
• Stoptober is back with a new suite of Stoptober 2025 resources. With a whole calendar of 'ready to use' and localisable resources, you will have the means to tailor this campaign to your specific audiences, from mid-September through to 31st October. If you need more information or if you would like the Canva link to the localisable versions of these resources, please email the Partnerships Team at partnerships@dhsc.gov.uk

Prevention:

• A Digital Weight Management Programme (DWMP) lunch and learn session hosted by the NHSE SE region Prevention and Healthcare Inequalities team took place on the 17th September. The recording and key resources are available on FutureNHS. Please share these links with relevant primary care colleagues so that we can take full advantage of this resource as a region.
• Recordings from the Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP) Strands 1, 2 and 3 – Applicant Briefing events are now available to watch.
• Frameworks UK have published research with recommendations that sets out more ways to talk about health and food, to shine a light on the wider factors around how we eat with particular relevance to 'ultra-processed' foods
• There is a new Key Performance Indicators tab on the Tobacco Dependency Services Dashboard. The tab displays the latest key performance information at provider and ICB level, based on data submitted to the patient level dataset, and from commissioning and staffing information provided by ICBs and Regions. There is a quick 5-min explainer of the tab, available on FutureNHS: KPI Short Explainer - NHS Prevention Programme - Futures
• In a similar vein, colleagues hosted a webinar on the alcohol and tobacco compartments in the new Model Health System data platform, which is accessible to all NHS colleagues and allows benchmarking of data. Colleagues have posted a recording of the webinar available on the Model Health System. The Slides of the webinar and the Q&A can also be found here. You might also find the frequently asked questions useful.
• Various resources on the use of pharmacotherapy treatment have been made available for Tobacco Dependency Treatment services
  • NENC Template varenicline SOP v2 [New Version]
  • Varenicline TDA Checklist
  • Cytisine TDA Checklist v2
  • NCSCT Varenicline Resources
• SE NHS Health Check activity: quarter 1 data has now been published on fingertips. The nationally produced regional report (long PDF) and short summary report from LKIS SE are attached with this update. In quarter 1 of 2025-2026, 138,895 NHS Health Check offers were made in the SE. This is a decrease of 2.3% compared to 142,110 checks offered in Q1 of 2024-25. The number of people that received an NHS Health Check in the SE in Q1 was 50,496 (1.9% of eligible people). This was a decrease of 4.1% compared to Q1 in 2024-25 (uptake of offers in Q1 was 36.4%).
• The King's Fund have shared an insights and analysis piece on How Integrated Care Systems Can Prevent Cardiovascular Disease
• A new Strategic Commissioning Insights compartment is now available to view on the Model Health System. The compartment has been developed and designed to support Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in identifying potential opportunities for improvement. The metrics within the compartment, contain a mix of both spend/cost and activity volumes for ICBs, based on data for the 2024 calendar year. They cover selected conditions across five key areas: Acute non-elective inpatient admissions, Acute elective admissions, Acute outpatient attendances, Emergency department attendances, Primary care prescribing
• There is an ongoing open consultation on Banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children which closes on 26th November 2025.
• Royal College of Psychiatrists report on co-occurring conditions. The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) has recently published a report on Co-occurring substance use and mental health (CoSUM) disorders. This report identifies significant gaps in the care of individuals with co-occurring substance use and mental health (CoSUM) disorders within UK health systems. It is aimed at helping healthcare professionals and commissioners to better understand CoSUM and has recommendations for how people can be better cared for. It includes detailed information about these illnesses, how they can be treated, and shares accounts from people who have personally experienced them. This is a powerful addition to the existing guidance and evidence on working with this vulnerable, complex group.
• Reminder that a range of public health intelligence tools are available on the FutureNHS platform. Users can search by several criteria to find tools of interest (by risk factor, by health condition, by setting, by life course, by theme, by wider determinants)

Health inequalities:

• A paper has been published in the Lancet showing the association between health-related economic inactivity and smoking status
• The Northern Health Science Alliance has published a report highlighting how poor diets in the North go hand-in-hand with the highest rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and food insecurity in the country
• The NHS Race and Health Observatory (NHS RHO) has launched the 'Health Action Resource Platform' (HARP), an interactive platform centred on supporting healthcare organisations to tackle inequalities and improve health outcomes.
• The NHS RHO has also started an independent review into ethnicity pay gaps in the NHS in England, which will span the period July 2025 to December 2026.
• UKHSA have co-produced a report to inform inclusion health action in health protection. Lived experience: informing inclusive health protection - GOV.UK
• Mothers and Babies: Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries (MBRRACE) have released a report on ‘Saving Lives, Improving Mothers’ Care for 2025. The full and state of the nation reports can be found here
• The 2023 Learning from Lives and Deaths – people with a learning disability and autistic people (LeDeR) report is now available
• A range of services, tools and recommendations to improve access to translation and British Sign Language services to reduce health inequalities are available on the FutureNHS platform.
• Yale School of Public Health has published a case study on the Core20PLUS5 approach which explores how the approach tackles health inequalities and how it may evolve in the future.
• Developed by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), 'Investing in prevention – tobacco dependency treatment pathways' explores the development of tobacco dependency treatment pathways, in particular the role of finance professionals in supporting the financial sustainability of the NHS. It is part of wider guidance, which includes the role of data, resource allocation and business cases in reducing health inequalities. Register for a free account or log into on the NHS Learning Hub to take the course
• The Breathe project in Bradford is an example of how using the Core20PLUS5 approach can support people with respiratory conditions to stop smoking. Led by Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, the project offers tailored support to those most affected by smoking-related harm, with over 500 appointments to provide behavioural support and clinical checks offered to date. Read more about the project here.

Training, learning opportunities and events:

• Free course on reducing health inequalities in cancer pathways. The Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance has launched '123 Approach Health Inequalities', a free online learning course that helps healthcare professionals to tackle health inequalities and improve patient experience across the cancer pathway. Mapped to the Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development programme (ACCEND) capabilities, the CPD-accredited course has been designed in collaboration with people who have lived experience of cancer and NHS colleagues working across the cancer pathway. To access the course, register for an account on the Cancer Academy.
• The sickle cell disorder national education programme have shared a comprehensive e-learning course focusing on improving clinical knowledge of sickle cell disorder and a narrowing health inequalities module, which are available through the NHS Learning Hub. Sickle Cell awareness resources and toolkit are still available here
• OHID colleagues are hosting further webinars as part of their Public Health Intelligence webinar series:

  • Fingertips Plus - 18th November 2025 @ 1:30pm-3pm (online)

• The South East Health Innovation Networks are hosting a series of webinars on different aspects of heart failure between September and November.

  • Heart Failure: Frailty/End of Life and HF in Younger Patients - 27 November, 12pm – 1pm (online)

• Black History Month: free e-learning courses for all healthcare professionals. Healthcare professionals can learn about specific healthcare issues affecting the Black community in two free e-learning modules. 'Diagnosing breast cancer in Black women' is available on the RCGP website for any healthcare professional to register for free.

Other useful links:

• NHS Providers have published an insights piece on Making commissioning strategic which explores how a more strategic approach to commissioning can benefit patients and communities and how providers are central to its success
• A 1-year progress report for the UK 2024-2029 antimicrobrial resistance national action plan has been published

Publications and guidance:

• A government policy paper was released on the Life Sciences Sector plan, which sets out the vision for the structures and actions that will drive growth, innovation and better health outcomes
• The NHS Confederation has published an in-depth analysis of the vision for a neighbourhood health service as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan, and what it means for local integration and community-first care. It unpacks what the 'left shift' means in practice, with an overview of various delivery models, including case studies, ahead of the expected announcement of the 42 sites selected for the National Neighbourhood Implementation programme
• The Cervical Screening HPV self-sampling impact assessment is available along with a collection of other impact and equality assessments for new and amended NHS screening programmes
• Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published a press release showcasing information about the expansion and availability of Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) across England
• Feedback is being sought on the Local Government Outcomes Framework - the invitation extends to local authorities and other interested parties to provide feedback in writing via an online form by midnight 12 September 2025. If you would prefer to email, please address your email to LocalGovOutcomesFramework@communities.gov.uk

Prevention:

• The King's Fund have published an article on How Integrated Care Systems Can Prevent Cardiovascular Disease, which includes some recommendations at various levels within the health system
• Stoptober resources have been published on the DHSC Campaign Resource Centre. For campaign updates, visit the DHSC Campaign Resource Centre and login (or register) and add newsletter preferences (in ‘Account’, newsletter preferences, Becoming Smokefree)
• Varenicline supply via pharmacy patient group direction (PGD) in the North East region: the NE pharmacy PGD varenicline supply service has recently gone live across 11 participating local authority stop smoking services. The pharmacy PGD enables trained stop smoking advisors from the participating services to submit e-recommendations for their clients to pharmacies via PharmOutcomes, which is very similar to the previously existing NRT voucher dispensing schemes in pharmacy. Joanna Feeney, Stop Smoking Systems Strategic Manager at Fresh and Balance has shared the attached slides
  • Joanna presented at the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) webinar: varenicline and cytisine and contributed to the NCSCT briefing making stop smoking medications available and accessible
  • The webinar link contains a range of resources useful for Tobacco Dependency Services in relation to Varenicline and Cytisine, with further pharmacotherapy related information on FutureNHS and ASH's treatment hub
• The Bite Back 2030 charity has published a report on the influence the food industry has around food in schools 
• An article has been published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) calling for NHS tobacco dependence treatment services to be protected from funding cuts
  • Alongside this, the BMJ has also published a letter co-signed by the leaders of 7 medical royal colleges and health organisations, calling for action to protect tobacco dependence treatment services (TDTS) from further funding cuts.
  • ASH have also released document that makes the case for the importance of the Clinical Lead role in tobacco dependence
• Slides have been made available for Tobacco Dependence Services working in mental health inpatient settings:
  • "Breathing Space: Building resilience and not quitting on our patients or ourselves when providing smokefree care", slide deck - Presentation from South London and Maudsley (10.07.2025 Meeting)
  • Treating Tobacco Dependency slide deck - Presentation from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (14.08.2025 Meeting)
• Vaping and harm in young people: umbrella review is the first of three government-commissioned studies on the health impacts of youth vaping. The DHSC-funded, NIHR Public Health Policy Research Unit review is the largest review to date of evidence on the physical and mental effects of youth vaping

Health inequalities:

• The Centre for Mental Health have published a report which explores Improving Access to Physical Activity for People Living With Severe Mental Illness and includes key recommendations
• The NHS Race and Health Observatory unveils new interactive Health Action Resource Platform to help drive improvements in health outcomes
  • The platform is free to access and brings together data metrics which healthcare providers can use to share, compare and contrast, NHS performance data across major health condition outcomes and demographic markers
• For 4 years, NHSE has been proudly participating in the 10,000 Black interns programme, helping talented individuals flourish through meaningful projects while exploring rewarding NHS careers.
  • This summer there have been 71 new interns. Yanja Longwe describes her internship with the Children and Young People team in the Midlands region as “Transformative. Foundational. Awakening”.
  • See these links for more information about the foundation and applying to the programmes 
• Data update: Fingertips: Wider Determinants of Health was updated yesterday to include gambling premises per 100,000 population
• With Sickle Cell Awareness Month taking place during September, a toolkit as been put together to help raise awareness about sickle cell disorder (SCD) and the challenges faced by people living with the condition.
• There is a horizon scanning piece on the UK parliament website exploring the role public health has to play in tackling health inequalities and supporting the prevention agenda to reduce strain on healthcare services
  • The piece includes a range of useful links to wider reading and supporting evidence as well as several key questions for parliament 

Training, learning opportunities and events:

• Virtual Lunch and Learn session on the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme (DWMP) and making referrals into the programme. 17th September 2025 @ 12:30 - 13:30 (Virtual). The session is primarily aimed at those working in general practice. For any further queries, please contact lewis.clarke@nhs.net
• Surrey & Sussex Screening & Immunisation Team are hosting the first combined Cancer Screening Inequality Working Group where they will be continuing to focus on improving the accessibility and experience for individuals with learning disabilities. Wednesday 10 September @ 10am-12:00pm. Colleagues with interest in this work are welcome to contact the team on england.surreysussexsit@nhs.net to receive the invite to the meeting. The action plan generated from the previous individual screening programme working groups, as well as the recordings and AI generated notes from the meeting, are available on the SIT Futures page: Surrey & Sussex Inequalities Work - Surrey & Sussex Screening & Immunisation Team - Futures
• SE Regional Population Health Management (PHM) Webinar: Building a Shared Understanding of PHM in Neighbourhood Health. The webinar will focus on building a shared understanding of key Population Health Management (PHM) concepts—particularly segmentation and risk stratification and how they align to Neighbourhood Health as well as exploring current approaches across systems—what’s working, what’s emerging, and where the gaps are. 29th September @ 1pm - 2:30pm (Virtual). Audience: System leaders, Primary, Secondary Care, Social Care, Public Health, programme managers, analysts, and anyone interested/involved in PHM delivery
• Funding opportunities:
  • The Obesity Pathway Innovation Programme (OPIP) is an initiative to explore new innovative approaches to treating obesity in the NHS, with £50m investment from Government (via DSIT) and £35m investment from Lilly. OPIP will provide funding following an open competition run by Innovate UK for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and equivalent NHS organisations in the Devolved Nations to pilot alternative models of care for obesity. The Competition runs Monday 8 September 2025 - Wednesday 19 November 2025. To support this NHS England are delivering webinars in August/September, hosted by Innovate UK. For more details please see this post on FutureNHS or contact support@iuk.ukri.org for specific questions on the application process
  • Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT) has announced the launch of the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund (the Fund). The fund opens for applications on Wednesday 13th August and will remain open until 10th September 2025, 3pm. Innovative interventions to produce new knowledge on ‘what works’, building the evidence base on effective digital inclusion interventions. Local authorities, combined authorities, charities, research organisations and consortiums can apply for grants from the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund to support digitally excluded people in England. Grants of £25,000 to £500,000 are available to fund projects of different sizes. The application form, guidance document and other supporting documents will be available on the Find a Grant page and if you have any queries regarding the Fund, please contact ggms_diginc_innofund@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
• Health Innovation Wessex is hosting the ‘Managing the Pressure’ event which explores the innovations for blood pressure detection and monitoring to help reduce CVD related risk and improve outcomes. Tuesday 23 September @ 9am-4:30pm. In-person event @ the Francis Crick Institute  (London, NW1 1AT). Free to attend (£20 deposit, minus admin fees, refunded on attendance). For more information and to register, please visit the event page here
• Virtual SE Public Health Workforce Development Plan webinar - open to all those working in Public Health. Thursday 11th September @ 14:00-16:00. The event is an opportunity to hear from colleagues leading on elements of the plan, to share their learning as well as an opportunity for you to ask questions.You can register via the Registration Form
• UK Electronic Cigarette Research Forum (UKECRF) on the theme of ‘Knowns and Unknowns of Vaping’. Friday 26th September @ 10:30 to 14:30. Follow this link to register your interest in attending this event and find out more about joining the UKECRF mailing list
• Webinar: AI in the NHS 2025. Tuesday 14 October 2025 @ 14:00 - 17:15, online. This hybrid event will hear international perspectives on the challenges of effectively implementing AI in health care, and consider what the UK can learn from these experiences. Join our experts and stakeholders from across the NHS, government, academia and the tech industry to hear international perspectives on how to capitalise on AI in health care and navigate the challenges of effective implementation. Register with the Health Foundation event
• Tackling health inequalities in rural communities - virtual showcase. Wednesday 17 September, 9:30am - 11:30am (Online). Led by the Holsworthy Farmers Health Hub and organised by NHS England South West, this cross-sector initiative addresses long-term conditions - including mental health - through place-based, community-driven care. Register for the event here.
• The King's Fund are hosting an event on Moving care closer to home. 14th October 2025 @ 8:45am - 5:00pm. In person event in London, requires purchasing a ticket
• Friends, Families and Travellers, in partnership with the UKHSA and Roma Support Group, have co-created clear and accessible films covering maternal and childhood vaccination as well as films covering measles and whooping cough vaccinations for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. The webinar, which will launch the resources is taking place September 8th at 11am-12:30pm and will also include the methodology and processes behind the work, highlighting the approach to co-production. Register here for the online webinar: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Vaccination Resources Launch Tickets, Mon, Sep 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite
• Watch: Webinar: From diagnosis to delivery: how will the 10-Year Health Plan transform the NHS

Other useful links:

• The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) has launched a survey about the future of social prescribing in England, to help inform their new strategy, set to be released from 2026 onwards.
• OHID have published survey findings around the eating habits of children aged 16 - 18 months
• Sport England have published their first Areas of Research Interest – highlighting the evidence gaps and priority research topics where academics can make the biggest difference to sport and physical activity policy and practice

A message from Dr Dianne Addei, Director - National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, NHS England
As we approach the end of Black History Month, we have achieved an important milestone with the publication yesterday of our Ethnicity Recording Improvement Plan. The plan sets out our ambition to strengthen the quality, consistency and completeness of ethnicity data across the NHS.

It outlines targeted actions for NHS organisations to identify and act on issues with ethnicity data quality which impact on their understanding of, and ability to act on, inequalities experienced by patients and the population.

Good quality data – complete, accurate, up-to-date and recorded consistently across systems – is essential for effective service planning and delivery and ensuring services offer equitable access, experience and outcomes for all.

Research has shown that ethnic minority people report poorer healthcare experiences and outcomes, and poor quality ethnicity data makes it harder for the NHS to understand who is being left behind and why.

I would like to thank my team and all stakeholders who contributed to the development of this pivotal plan.   

Earlier this month, I was part of a team of NHS England leaders who visited Cambridge to see one of the country’s first Probation Neighbourhood Health Services in action. The service, supported by our programme, is pioneering an integrated approach to healthcare for people on probation – a group that experiences starkest health inequalities.

Based in the Cambridge Probation Office and nearby Access Surgery, the service offers nurse-led health screening during probation appointments, with onward referral when needed, a dedicated health navigator to support people to access services and address complex needs, and data collection and evaluation by Anglia Ruskin University to inform future commissioning and ensure services meet real needs. 

This neighbourhood model directly responds to the 10-Year Health Plan’s call for community-based, preventative care. It demonstrates how closer links between probation, health and wider community services can break down barriers and support rehabilitation. 

If we do not tackle the health problems faced by people on probation systematically, we risk a long chain of preventable ill-health in the community. This new model shows how we can put policy into practice.

The visit highlighted both the challenges and the opportunities to build sustainable, joined-up healthcare solutions for people on probation, with the Cambridge pilot offering a vital blueprint for the future.

Thank you for all you continue to do to support our shared mission of reducing healthcare inequalities. 
With best wishes, 
Dianne  

Latest Updates

Tackling racism including antisemitism
We are asking NHS leaders for assistance in implementing important initiatives that support our shared commitment to fostering an inclusive, respectful and professional environment – for colleagues, patients and visitors – across the NHS, and assuring our communities of our commitment to tackling hatred in all its forms. 

We take a zero-tolerance stance to all forms of hatred, antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism and to any form of discriminatory behaviour. In line with this, we are formally and actively adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism.

The government is also reviewing the recommendations of the independent working group on Islamophobia.  

Speak up month: creating a culture of safety
We are dedicated to ensuring everyone working in the NHS feels safe, and supported, to speak up. We want the NHS to be the best place to work and the safest place to receive care.

As part of Speak Up month, we encourage healthcare leaders to explore our published resources that demonstrate compassionate and responsive action and supports effective speaking up arrangements here.

Improving diversity in health and care research
NHS trusts are invited to join a pilot project launched with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to improve our understanding of the diversity of people taking part in health and care research.

Working the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the pilot will gather data to help the NIHR, NHS England and DHSC to assess how well research participation reflects the UK’s diversity – and identify where more action is needed. 

Sickle cell disease: what every clinician needs to think about
A sickle cell crisis can present itself in different ways, making early recognition vital to ensure patients receive rapid, safe and effective care. 
 
In a new blog, Dr Rossby Awadzi, a GP trainee and Sickle Cell Clinical Fellow at NHS England, discusses the varied presentations of a sickle cell crisis and why it is important to prioritise patients experiencing one. He also highlights the crucial role of emergency department bypass units in improving outcomes and delivering better, more timely care for people living with sickle cell disease. 

Dietitian wins 2025 CAPHO Award for sickle cell nutrition service
Dr Claudine Matthews, a consultant dietitian at Shoreditch Park and City Primary Care Network, won the AHP Innovation and Improvement Award at this year’s NHS England Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAPHO) Awards, for developing the Sickle Cell Nutrition Academy, which addresses nutrition knowledge and care provision gaps, empowering patients to better self-manage their condition and improve their outcomes. 
 
Claudine has been involved in the work of our Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassaemia Improvement Programme, sharing information and resources to improve the quality of nutrition services for sickle cell patients.

How acting as an anchor employer can help the NHS address health inequalities in coastal communities
Our Senior Policy and Programme Manager, Cicely Ryder-Belson, has written a blog, sharing key insights from her visit to Great Yarmouth’s Apollo Project, a two-year workforce programme that offers support for people looking to start a career in health and care.

Great Yarmouth is one of the 16 sites in the Coastal Navigator Network. Her blog shows how the NHS can have a dual role as an anchor employer, by helping to reduce health inequalities in coastal communities while also tackling economic inactivity. 

Black History Month: Leadership and representation
This Black History Month, senior NHS London executives have been reflecting on why diverse leadership matters and how representation shapes the quality and equity of healthcare across the capital.

Read Professor Kevin Fenton's blog to hear his insights on leadership, inclusion and the steps we can take together to build a fairer, more inclusive NHS. Professor Fenton is the Director of Public Health for London at the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

News from our partners

Health information you can trust from the revamped PIF TICK website
The PIF TICK website has been updated to signpost users to more than 145 trusted information creators. Following workshops with staff in the NHS and public libraries, the Patient Information Forum has updated its online directory of information materials produced by organisations that meet the PIF TICK quality criteria.

The updated website makes it easier for the public to find information on different health topics. The PIF TICK is the UK's only quality mark for health information.

Improving health literacy in the NHS
This guide - produced in partnership with NHS England - explores what is meant by health literacy, the benefits of applying health literacy interventions, recommendations for NHS trust board members and case studies from five NHS trusts that have effectively embedded interventions.

Black History Month: free e-learning courses for healthcare professionals 
Healthcare professionals can learn about specific healthcare issues affecting the Black community in two free e-learning modules.

'Diagnosing breast cancer in Black women' is available on the RCGP website for any healthcare professional to register for free.

It takes 30 minutes and explores the risk factors that affect Black women and potential barriers to diagnosis. Sign up for a free RCGP account here.

Also available is the sickle cell disorder national education programme, a comprehensive e-learning course focusing on improving clinical knowledge of sickle cell disease.

Simply register for a free account or log into on the NHS Learning Hub to get started.

Latest LeDeR report now available
The 2023 ‘Learning from Lives and Deaths – people with a learning disability and autistic people’ (LeDeR) report is now available online.

The report, presented to Parliament in September, reviews deaths in England for autistic adults and adults with a learning disability to provide learning for the future and improve care. 

This latest report placed a greater focus on the deaths of people with a learning disability from ethnic minority backgrounds and the deaths of people with a severe or profound learning disability.

Events and Webinars

Join our Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Forum 
Wednesday 19 November 2025 - 10:00 am - 11:30 am | Online 

The Forum - which takes place monthly - is a national platform for health and social care professionals with a keen interest in reducing health inequalities, including colleagues working at regional and system levels in the NHS.

It aims to promote collaboration, facilitate shared learning and provide support across the NHS. It is instrumental in shaping health policy, identifying barriers, sharing good practice and enhancing the capacity of the system to achieve equitable health outcomes.

If you have any questions, please email england.healthinequalities@nhs.net

Launch of new ICB Health Inequalities Assurance Framework
Wednesday 19 November 2025 – 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm | Online

We commissioned NHS Confederation to develop a new Integrated Care Board (ICB) Health Inequalities Assurance Framework to ensure that tackling health inequalities is at the heart of the role of ICBs. 

The framework will help ICBs measure their own progress against the five key national priorities on health inequalities, alongside the three shifts outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan. 

Register to join the live launch of the framework.

You will hear from ICB leaders who were involved in developing the framework and why they think this tool is important for all ICBs.

Webinar on improving the quality of ethnicity data across the NHS 
Tuesday 2 December 2025 -  2.00 pm - 3.30pm | Online

We have launched an Ethnicity Recording Improvement Plan to strengthen the quality, consistency and completeness of ethnicity data across the NHS.  

Good data means better decisions. By recording accurate, complete and up-to-date information, we can plan services more effectively and make sure everyone receives fair access, experiences and outcomes. 

The plan sets out practical steps for NHS organisations identify and address data quality issues, helping us better understand and tackle health inequalities. 

To support the implementation of the plan, we are hosting a webinar that will set out our ambitions and expectations of ICBs and providers, share practical examples of improving ethnicity recording and support organisations to reflect on how they can improve ethnicity recording. 

Please click here to register for the webinar.

Have you seen?
This Black History Month profile of Dionne, the Director of Nursing at the St George's, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group, who followed in the footsteps of her aunt, Yvonne, who was part of the Windrush generation that came from the Caribbean to work in the NHS. 

A message from Dr Dianne Addei, Director - National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, NHS England
As we move into autumn, our work continues implementing the direction outlined in the 10 Year Health Plan. Our reimagined NHS will be designed to tackle health inequalities in access and outcomes and pave the way for excellent healthcare for all.

To achieve this vision, it is vital that our collective work to tackle unfair and avoidable differences in health is aligned to the three shifts to community, digital and prevention. We will work to embed the Core20PLUS5 approach into 10 Year Health Plan delivery to ensure reducing healthcare inequalities remains a priority across the system

This September, I marked Sickle Cell Awareness Month by visiting Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust's emergency bypass unit, which is administering pain relief for those living with sickle cell disorder in 9 minutes, on average. This means that it meets National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for delivering pain relief within 30 minutes by a large margin. The same time in the emergency department averages 5-6 hours. I was encouraged to learn that patient feedback for the unit has been overwhelmingly positive and that it is presenting a new model of healthcare that listens and responds to patients' needs.

At the start of this month, I attended a meeting in Parliament to hear from the sickle cell community and discuss our improvement work in addressing the findings from the 'No One's Listening' report. Emergency department bypass units like the one in Lewisham and Greenwich represent a firm first step on the road to providing excellent quality care for sickle cell patients.

With Black History Month this October, we are celebrating the profound contributions made by the Black community, particularly in the NHS. Inequalities in any form are at odds with our NHS values and conditions such as cardiovascular disease, sickle cell and diabetes are more prevalent in ethnic minority populations. Identifying and tackling specific health inequalities in these areas and providing high-quality healthcare should be a key priority for us all.
With best wishes, 
Dianne

Latest updates

NHS England director visits patients and staff at Lewisham and Greenwich emergency department sickle cell bypass unit
On 15 September, Dr Dianne Addei, Director of the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme at NHS England, visited Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust's emergency bypass unit in London to see how it is delivering high-quality care for patients with sickle cell disorder.

Opened earlier this year, the unit has a unique Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP)-lead approach. Dr Addei met Ben Travis, CEO of the trust and Michael Barns, Lead Advanced Clinical Practitioner, alongside other senior staff and patients at the unit, to hear their experiences and how the service is delivering effective pain relief.
Read more about the bypass unit on the NHS Lewisham and Greenwich website.

NHS England's Behavioural Science Unit explores ways to deliver faster effective pain relief in a sickle cell crisis 
Researchers at the Behavioural Science Unit at NHS England have visited NHS hospitals across England to learn how sickle cell care is delivered in emergency departments, particularly the barriers and influencers to patients receiving timely pain relief.

Their findings include five main causes of delayed pain relief and two practical solutions, and pave the way for delivering improved care for those that need it. Read the blog post on the NHS England website.

Highlights from Sickle Cell Awareness Month
This September, we have been raising awareness of sickle cell disorder (SCD), the most common genetic blood condition in the UK.

We spoke to Stephanie George, a patient with SCD about her experiences and the importance of giving blood. "The kindness of strangers has allowed me to live. We need more blood donors, please know that your blood does go to real people, and you are definitely saving lives - I am a living testament of that.”

Find out more and become a blood donor via the NHS Give Blood app or at www.blood.co.uk

Black History Month: free e-learning courses for all healthcare professionals 
Healthcare professionals can learn about specific healthcare issues affecting the Black community in two free e-learning modules.

'Diagnosing breast cancer in Black women' is available on the RCGP website for any healthcare professional to register for free. It takes 30 minutes and explores the risk factors that affect Black women and potential barriers to diagnosis. 

Sign up for a free RCGP account here.

Also available is the sickle cell disorder national education programme, a comprehensive e-learning course focusing on improving clinical knowledge of sickle cell disorder. Simply register for a free account or log into on the NHS Learning Hub to get started.

Learn about tobacco dependency treatment pathways for Stoptober
Learn about the impact of tobacco addiction on health and how it is a driver of health inequalities for Stoptober.

Developed by the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), 'Investing in prevention – tobacco dependency treatment pathways' explores the development of tobacco dependency treatment pathways, in particular the role of finance professionals in supporting the financial sustainability of the NHS.

It is part of wider guidance, which includes the role of data, resource allocation and business cases in reducing health inequalities. Register for a free account or log into on the NHS Learning Hub to take the course.

Good Things Foundation shortlisted for digital inclusion and health inequalities award
Good Things Foundation has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Health Tech Newspaper (HTN) Health Tech Awards in the 'Digital inclusion and improving health inequalities' category.

Good Things Foundation conducted research exploring the ways that people's beliefs and trust can act as barriers to them using digital health services and accessing timely and appropriate care. The winners will be announced on 8 October. See the finalists on the HTN website.

Finalists announced for HSJ reducing healthcare inequalities award
The Health Service Journal Awards 2025 has announced the finalists for its 'Innovation and Improvement in Reducing Healthcare Inequalities' award.

The awards called for NHS organisations who have worked in an innovative or creative way to reduce healthcare inequalities, especially those which align with the Core20PLUS5 approach. The awards ceremony is on 20 November. See the finalists on the HSJ Awards website.

Core20PLUS5 approach chosen as case study in Yale School of Public Health
Yale School of Public Health has published a case study on the Core20PLUS5 approach which explores how the approach tackles health inequalities and how it may evolve in the future.

Anyone can access the paper by registering for a Yale Cases account. Read the paper now on the Yale website.

Chest x-ray service launched to support earlier lung cancer detection
A new self-referral chest x-ray service has launched in Bridgwater, aimed at helping detect lung cancer earlier and improving patient outcomes.

It addresses one of the Core20PLUS5's clinical areas of focus, early cancer diagnosis, by helping to identify suspected cancers sooner. Read more about the service on NHS Somerset's website.

Free blood pressure kits available in libraries
Library users across Devon are encouraged to borrow a blood pressure monitor alongside their usual books, thanks to the expansion of the 'One Devon' initiative, led by Devon County Public Health, Libraries Unlimited and NHS Devon Integrated Care Board.

Supporting a clinical area of focus in the Core20PLUS5 approach, the scheme encourages earlier intervention in undiagnosed high blood pressure and hypertension. Read more about the initiative here.

News from our partners

Black Maternal Health report published
The Health and Social Care Committee has published a report that finds Black women in England continue to face disproportionately poor outcomes in maternity care.

The report identifies four key areas to drive progress in improving maternity care: culture, leadership and racism, workforce, data and funding. Read the report on the Parliament website.

Six neighbourhood sites come together to improve population health
Local neighbourhood teams from six sites across England have come together to explore joined-up, community-led approaches to improve population health and reduce health inequalities.

Based in London, Gloucester, Staffordshire, Cornwall, Lancashire and West Cumbria, the project is part of an 18-month programme launched by the NHS Confederation and Local Trust earlier this year to test community-led, hyperlocal approaches to health. Read more on the NHS Confederation website.

Supporting people with respiratory conditions to stop smoking
The Breathe project in Bradford is an example of how using the Core20PLUS5 approach can support people with respiratory conditions to stop smoking.

Led by Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, the project offers tailored support to those most affected by smoking-related harm, with over 500 appointments to provide behavioural support and clinical checks offered to date. Read more about the project here.

Animations available to support Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families
Friends, Families and Travellers, in partnership with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Roma Support Group (RSG), have produced a series of short animations with information on vaccinations.

Aimed to support Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families, they are available on the Friends, Families and Travellers website and a playlist featuring all the videos is available on YouTube.

Free toothbrushes delivered to children in most deprived areas of England
The national supervised toothbrushing programme continues to tackle health inequalities by providing over 2 million toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste to hundreds of thousands of 3 to 5-year olds in areas of deprivation in England.

The programme addresses the oral health clinical area of focus in the Core20PLUS approach for children and young people. Read about the initiative here.

Report into avoidable and preventable deaths of people with learning disabilities
King's College London (KCL) has led a report investigating deaths in UK adults with a learning disability in an effort to provide learning for the future and improve care. Read the report on the KCL website.

Nuffield Trust looks at north-south divide on preventable liver disease
The Nuffield Trust has found a significant north-south divide in the mortality rates of preventable liver disease in England, with rates disproportionately higher in the most northern parts of the country. 

Events and webinars

Bridging the gap: addressing neonatal health inequalities in Black communities
Thursday 30 October 2025 - 9:30am – 4:30pm | Online 
NHS England South East and Kent and Medway Local Maternity and Neonatal System is hosting a webinar focused on tackling neonatal health inequalities affecting Black communities. The event brings together clinicians, researchers, commissioners, parents and community advocates to share data, amplify community voices and explore evidence-based, culturally responsive interventions. Register for your place now.

Bradford District and Craven Core20PLUS5 Learning Week
Monday 29 September – Friday 3 October 2025 | Online 
Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership is hosting a range of bitesize online sessions highlighting learning and impact from its hyperlocal approach to the Core20PLUS5 programme. The events are for open to anyone interested in the Core20PLUS5 approach in Bradford District and Craven. Sign up to the Core20PLUS5 Learning Week now.

Have you seen?
The King's Fund's Unleashing the power of communities: why neighbourhood health must be neighbourhood-led not just neighbourhood-based. Read the blog here.

A message from Dr Dianne Addei, Director - National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, NHS England
As the new Director of the NHS Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme, I want to pass on my sincere gratitude to all for the kind messages of support I have received.
Over the next year, I will continue to champion our shared vision and push forward our 10 Year Health Plan objectives in line with the government’s mission to build a health service fit for the future.       
Within the healthcare inequalities ecosytem, our focus remains on enabling the three shifts: from hospital to community, analogue to digital and sickness to prevention. With your help, we will continue to drive exceptional quality healthcare, ensuring equitable access, excellent experience and optimal outcomes for all.  
This month, the team have been busy focussing efforts on preparations ahead of Sickle Cell Awareness Month in September - an opportunity to raise awareness about sickle cell disorder  and the sickle cell trait. Many sickle cell patients, and patients of another inherited blood condition, thalassaemia, live in areas of socio-economic deprivation. With the 10 Year Health Plan focussing on reducing the gap in health inequalities for the most deprived communities, this is an important time for us to ensure patients are receiving appropriate and high-quality care they need.
Together, we must ensure we remain steadfast in our mission to tackle healthcare inequalities and continue to shift the power to patients and communities, and I look forward to working with you to achieve this goal. 
With best wishes, 
Dianne  

Latest updates

Sickle Cell Awareness Month: 1-30 September
September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness of sickle cell disorder (SCD). SCD is the most common genetic blood condition in the UK, affecting around 17,500 people.
Anyone can be born with the condition, but it disproportionally affects people with a Black African or Black Caribbean background. 
We are asking NHS colleagues and partners to share our information and resources to help the public and healthcare professionals understand what sickle cell is. We want to encourage people to give blood and consider if they carry the genetic trait. Request to download the toolkit by emailing england.sicklecellreview@nhs.net

Sickle cell e-learning course for all healthcare professionals
Learn how you can narrow healthcare inequalities in sickle cell disorder (SCD) this September for Sickle Cell Awareness Month.
Narrowing health inequalities in sickle cell disease is a free, 30-minute e-learning course that will equip you with the knowledge of the causes of SCD and the role health and care professionals play in narrowing the gap.
Also available is the sickle cell disorder national education programme, a comprehensive e-learning course focusing on improving clinical knowledge of SCD.
Simply register for a free account or log into on the NHS Learning Hub to get started. 

Update on Core20PLUS5 Ambassadors Programme
As part of our work towards implementing the 10 Year Health Plan, the National Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Programme is pivoting its work programme and resources to enable and support the Plan's delivery.
We will be continuing our focus on the Core20PLUS5 approach to reduce inequalities in access and outcomes for healthcare programmes. We will also be pausing our activities on mobilising Networks for Change such asCore20PLUS5 Ambassadors Programme.  As such, the Core20PLUS Ambassadors Programme will pause following the Cohort 3 Graduation Event in October 2025.
For all enquiries please contact england.healthinequalities@nhs.net

Free course on reducing health inequalities in cancer pathways
The Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance has launched '123 Approach Health Inequalities', a free online learning course that helps healthcare professionals to tackle health inequalities and improve patient experience across the cancer pathway. 
Mapped to the Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development programme (ACCEND) capabilities, the CPD-accredited course has been designed in collaboration with people who have lived experience of cancer and NHS colleagues working across the cancer pathway.
To access the course, register for an account on the Cancer Academy.

Spotlight on Keighley cancer champions: volunteers raising cancer awareness
The Keighley Cancer Awareness Network (K-CAN) is an example of how the Core20PLUS5 approach is being successfully implemented.
The K-CAN project recruited a group of health champions to tackle cancer within South Asian communities in Keighley, where there are lower-than-average uptakes for screenings.
Read more about the initiative here.

Coverage of neighbourhood health care models in operation
Two community initiatives, which are demonstrating the 10 Year Health Plan's commitment to reducing health inequalities through neighbourhood health care models, have been featured in recent BBC coverage.
Pop-up SeaFit clinics based in coastal communities such as Brixham, Folkestone and Peterhead, offer healthcare services directly from the harbour. And Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust is investing in treating people at home and in the community.

Raising awareness of thalassaemia for South Asian Heritage Month 
In August, we marked South Asian Heritage Month by raising awareness of thalassaemia, a group of rare, life-long, inherited blood conditions which mainly affects people of South Asian, Southeast Asian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern heritage.
We told the story of Naseema and Reena, two mothers of children with thalassaemia, about how the condition affects family life, and the importance of giving blood and getting tested for the genetic trait.
Read their stories in the Bangla Sanglap newspaper.

The NHS launches WhatsApp channel
NHS England has launched an official NHS WhatsApp Channel to share trusted health information directly with the public. Search for ‘NHS’ under the ‘Updates’ tab directly in WhatsApp.
Got a story or idea for the channel? Contact us at england.social@nhs.net

News from our partners

NHS RHO commissions review into NHS ethnicity pay gap
The NHS Race and Health Observatory has launched an independent review into ethnicity pay gaps in the NHS in England. It will span the period July 2025 to December 2026.

NHS RHO launches platform to drive improvements in health outcomes
The NHS Race and Health Observatory has launched the 'Health Action Resource Platform' (HARP), an interactive platform centred on supporting healthcare organisations to tackle inequalities.

Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund launched to support digital excluded people
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has launched the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, which is one of the first five actions set out in the Digital Inclusion Action Plan: First Steps to support digitally excluded people. The fund will remain open for applications until 10 September, 15:00. 

Parliament publishes horizon scan on inequalities in public health
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST)  has published 'Public health: inequalities and prevention', an article exploring how health inequalities can be mitigated with regard to public health. 

Events and webinars

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller vaccination resources launch webinar
Monday 8 September - 11am – 12:30pm  | Online 
Friends, Families and Travellers is holding a webinar to launch its co-produced vaccination films for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
The films, created in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and Roma Support Group, provide clear and accessible information on maternal and childhood vaccination as well as measles and whooping cough vaccinations.
The webinar will also include the methodology and processes behind the co-production approach.  
Book your place for the event.

AI Ambassador Network meeting: Co-designing AI policy, AI in specialist therapy and more
Wednesday 3 September 2025 - 10.30am – 12pm | Online 
Featuring speakers Megan Morys-Carter - Director of Digital Innovation, Oxford University Hospitals Trust and Maria Garcia, Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, UCLH Trust. Join the AI Ambassador Network to register.

Have you seen?

This video of how SeaFit, a partnership between Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, The Fishermen's Mission and Seafarers Hospital Society, is helping fishermen and their families access healthcare in the harbour. 

Connect 5 is an evidence-based course ideal for businesses, local authorities, charitable organisations and community groups as well as individuals working in key settings. The Connect 5 course helps to build the capacity and capability of people to have more proactive and supportive conversations about mental health, wellbeing and suicide.

FULLY FUNDED SPACES AVAILABLE – Havant and East Hants Mind can offer fully-funded places for anyone living, working or volunteering in the public or voluntary sectors, within Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton There is a possibility that they can also offer subsidised course places, even if you do not fit within the prerequisites above.

Find out more here.

In the past six months, the number of practices signed up to Safer Surgeries in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight has more than doubled, rising to 26 practices. This growing momentum reflects a shared commitment to making primary care safer and more accessible for everyone, especially patients who may face barriers to care.

Why sign up?
Becoming a Safer Surgery means joining a network of practices that are making small, practical changes to reduce health inequalities. You’ll receive guidance and tools to:

• Create a welcoming, non-discriminatory environment
• Support patients without documentation or with uncertain immigration status
• Tackle barriers to registration and care

The benefits are clear: improved patient trust, enhanced safety, and alignment with NHS core values of inclusivity and equity.

📩 To find out more visit Introduction to Safe Surgeries: Improving access to Primary Care

Let’s keep the momentum going – together, we can make every surgery a safer surgery.

Let’s Talk About Vaccines (LTaV) is a training session to help build your confidence, skills and knowledge to open up discussions with service users about vaccination decisions in your local area.

This 2.5-hour online, interactive session is free to health, social care and voluntary sector staff within the NHS Hampshire & Isle of Wight ICB footprint. 

This training uses approaches from:

• Making Every Contact Count (MECC)
• Shared Decision Making
• Motivational Interviewing (MI)

Apply here.

The Active Practice Charter is an initiative by The Royal College of GPs and Sport England to inspire and celebrate the GP practices that champion the role of physical activity in improving everybody’s health and wellbeing. Become an RCGP Active Practice.
 
Become an Active Practice by making some simple but impactful changes that demonstrate to your patients and staff that movement is medicine, and we can all feel better by moving more. See here the practices that have already achieved their chartership RCGP Active Practice Charter map.
 
The Active Practice Charter is free to join; all you need to do is demonstrate you have taken steps in the practice to:
Reduce sedentary behaviour in staff and patients
Increase physical activity in staff and patients
Partner with a local physical activity provider
 
The initiative can be led by anyone in the practice, and aimee.cadman@energiseme.org from your local active partnership, offers tailored support for practices to achieve the accreditation – get in touch to discuss further.

Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) provides comprehensive support, advice and forensic medical examination services to people who have experienced rape or sexual assault throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Treetops is a 24/7 service operating 365(6) days a year and staffed by Crisis Workers and Sexual Offence Examiners. Most people engage with Treetops through the Police, but self-referrals are accepted.

The team of Crisis Workers offer 24/7 telephone support. The Crisis Worker can talk you through your options and provide information on the support available. In addition, they can refer and/or signpost you to a range of services including the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) service and therapeutic support. A Sexual Offence Examiner is a qualified forensic doctor or nurse, who can provide a forensic medical examination and medical aftercare such as emergency contraception and sexual health advice. 

The service Treetops SARC provides is free to access and confidential. We will only share your details with other services or agencies with your consent unless there is a concern that you or someone else is at risk of serious harm. We have a legal duty to share information with other services if you are under 18.
We are in a discreet and secure location with free onsite parking.

Contact: admin.treetops@solent.nhs.uk

The NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Improving Together platform offers everyone across Hampshire and Isle of Wight a repository of resources and tools that support continuous learning and improvement, including local and national training and development opportunities, links to join learning and improvement networks, and newsletters and bulletins you can subscribe to. 

There is also an internal page on Stay Connected for ICB staff to access which is regularly updated with new training opportunities and improvement resources.

The Making Every Contact Count (MECC) train-the-trainer (TtT) course consists of two half days, and one full day of training. This will prepare you to deliver MECC training within your organisation, and beyond. The training is face-to-face and is not available online. Complete the application form and email to england.mecc.wx@nhs.net

The session will provide information about our service in Hampshire, outline our referral process and treatment options, as well as provide some basic drug and alcohol awareness training.

This session is aimed at professionals working with people who may benefit from drug and alcohol treatment/support, or staff members from our partner agencies who would like to expand their knowledge around drugs and alcohol.

• Tuesday 13th January 2026: 10:00-12:00

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