Health Inequalities report 2025 to 2026

1. Reducing health inequalities

Moving towards health equity is a key priority nationally, regionally and locally. Reducing health inequalities is a central goal in the treatment-to-prevention shift set out in the NHS 10 Year Plan, fundamental to ICBs as outlined in the Model ICB guidance, and central across all stages of strategic commissioning.  We have prioritised reducing health inequalities in both our South West London Integrated Care Partnership’s Strategic Plan and Joint Forward Plan. 

Health inequalities refers to the differences in health outcomes between population subgroups, including differences in how long we live or healthy lifespan. Inequalities in health are largely due to inequalities in society, and the unequal distribution of the social determinants of health. These occur across several demographics including gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic group, geography, religion and sexual preference. There are also inequalities in the use of healthcare relating to education, income and occupation.

Healthcare is also a determinant of health inequalities, so addressing differences in access to and use of services between population groups will help in reducing overall health inequalities. In South West London, we are doing this by working towards equitable distribution of our services and embedding in them prevention, community empowerment and self-care.

Since 2024, the Health Equity Partnership Group in South West London has focused on a range of collaborative efforts aimed at reducing health inequalities across our six boroughs. The group consists of representatives from local authorities, NHS trusts and community organisations working together to address social determinants of health, such as housing, employment and access to healthcare services.

Initiatives have included expanding outreach programmes for underserved communities, improving access to mental health support and promoting culturally tailored health education campaigns. Additionally, the Health Equity Partnership Group has championed the collection and use of data to better identify health inequalities and monitor progress, ensuring that resources are allocated where they are most needed to make a tangible impact on health outcomes.

2. Understanding population health needs

NHS South West London has spent considerable time improving its health intelligence on health and healthcare inequalities. During the 2024/25 annual assessment of ICBs, NHS England noted the development of the Health Inequalities Explorer Dashboard to identify potential areas of inequality. 

Throughout 2025/26, we have continued to improve this dashboard, as well as other tools on our internal Health Insights platform. This platform brings together real-time data from health and care organisations across our integrated care system, creating an integrated health and care record for each patient. These are used to create dashboards on different topics, for example, long term conditions and vaccination uptake.

We use the dashboards to monitor inequalities in health outcomes across a range of clinical domains by deprivation, ethnicity, gender and age, allowing us to identify where the Core20 and other population groups may have health needs which are not being addressed.

For example, the vaccinations team has carried out detailed analysis of health inequalities to inform the targeting of pop-up clinics, identifying strong links between uptake and factors such as ethnicity and deprivation.

NHS South West London’s Inequality Explorer is available to acute programmes to assess inequalities in service use and access, split by the patient demographics available to us from primary care records. The data are refreshed regularly so that we can start to account for changes over time, person, and place and to detect any emerging patterns.

We have acted in specific clinical areas to improve completeness and accuracy of coding and recording practices, especially for ethnicity characteristics, reflecting our commitment to implementing the Ethnicity Recording Improvement Plan.

For example, in maternity services, all South West London trusts are compliant with Maternity Services Dataset submissions. Ethnicity is captured on the Local Maternity and Neonatal Services (LMNS) dashboard, including stillbirths and maternal deaths.  This data is presented at Board meetings.  Other reports which report on ethnicity include High-Intensity A&E User report and Post-Partum Haemorrhage reports.   

This data is presented at patient level to programme teams and primary care users. Overall numbers are compared to nationally published aggregate numbers to ensure integrity in datasets, and confidence in the results presented back to clinicians. New programmes have coding checked and validated by clinicians so that our patient identification reflects local coding practices.

This year, we undertook a separate analysis of population needs for our Clinically-Led Strategic Plan, where we focused on differences between Core20 and non-Core20 populations by age cohorts and stratification including ‘generally healthy’, ‘single long-term condition’, ‘multi-morbidity’ in relation to service access and use.  This revealed that people from the most deprived backgrounds (Core20) have a higher level of healthcare resource use, particularly for those in the severe mental illness, cancer and end-stage disease segments.

For example, Core20 populations in the cancer segment use 17% more resource than the rest of the population. This can be because people from more deprived communities access services later, when their disease is more developed, and therefore requiring more intensive support (including higher levels of A&E use).

These findings have been picked up within the various workstreams of our Clinically-Led Strategic Plan, and evidence-based interventions to reduce the inequalities will be put into place over the next three years. We have also started work on embedding population health management in the development of our integrated neighbourhood teams, helping them to use local data to identify specific groups experiencing poorer health outcomes or barriers to accessing care, such as those from deprived backgrounds, ethnic minorities and individuals with complex needs. We are encouraging regular reviews of local health data to ensure that emerging inequalities are quickly identified and responded to, allowing resources to be targeted where they will have the greatest impact.

During 2025/26, we undertook projections of healthy life expectancy across Core20PLUS groups in South West London. We found that healthy life expectancy had regressed to 2012 levels due primarily to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Prevalence of mental ill-health has increased most. The borough projected to have the most significant improvement in healthy life expectancy is Merton, with expectations to overtake the current highest performer which is Richmond.

Medical and physiological treatments, alongside social prescribing, can improve self-reported disability-related quality of life, and there is strong evidence that physical activity helps manage many long-term conditions. During 2025/26 we worked with local authorities and general practices to improve the use of physical activity in primary care both for staff and patients.

2.1. Measuring inequalities

In this section, we provide an overview of inequalities across eight operational and Core20PLUS5 priorities for adults:

• Elective care
• Urgent and emergency care
• Maternity
• Mental Health
• Respiratory
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease

For children:

• Admissions to emergency departments
• Asthma
• Oral health
• Mental health

We assess inequality in these domains by looking at the three factors which we know contribute to inequality in South West London:

• deprivation
• ethnicity
• gender

We have also, where appropriate, included data on representation by age and borough.

Comparing this year’s data with last year’s indicates that there have been no significant changes and levels of inequality have remained stable.

Deprivation figures are presented either by quintiles or by deciles depending on the population size.

2.1.1. Elective Care

The below tables show the proportion of the waiting list that has been waiting longer than the 18-week target. [Data as of 1^st Feb 2026]

Figure 1 18+ week wait by ethnicity

Figure 2 18+ week wait by age

Figure 3 18+ week wait by deprivation

Figure 4 18+ week wait by gender

Figure 5 18+ week wait by borough

The proportion of individuals waiting more than 18 weeks for elective care appears similar across the ethnicity, deprivation and gender dimensions; however, working age adults appears to have a higher proportion of long waits than children or the elderly.

2.1.2. Urgent and emergency care

The below tables show the inequalities in mean time waits in emergency departments. [Data as of 16 February 2026]

Figure 4 Mean time waits in ED by ethnicity

Figure 5 Mean time waits in ED by age

Figure 6 Mean time waits in ED by deprivation

Figure 7 Mean time waits in ED by gender

Older individuals appear to have longer waits in emergency departments.

2.1.3. Maternity

The below tables show the rates of pre-term (under 37 weeks) births. [Data from 2^nd Jan 2025-2^nd Jan 2026]

Figure 8 Pre-term births by ethnicity

Figure 9 Pre-term births by age

Figure 10  Pre-term births by deprivation

Figure 11 Pre-term births by gender

Figure 12 Pre-term births by borough

Individuals from areas in the 2^nd and 3^rd most deprived quintiles, non-white ethnic groups and older mothers appear to have higher rates of pre-term birth.

2.1.4. Mental health

The below tables show the proportion of adult patients in mental health services versus the South West London population. [Data represents patients referred to MH services in the 12 months March 2025 to Feb 2026 inclusive]

Figure 13 Adult mental health patients by ethnicity

Figure 14 Adult mental health patients by age

Figure 15 Adult mental health patients by deprivation

Figure 16 Adult mental health patients by gender

Females, individuals from more deprived areas, children and young people and those from Caribbean and ‘any other Black background’ were over-represented in general mental health services vs in the general population.

2.1.5. Respiratory

The below tables show the eligible patients vaccinated for Flu within Flu season. [Winter 2025-2026]

Figure 17 Flu vaccinations by ethnicity

Figure 18 Flu vaccinations by age

Figure 19 Flu vaccinations by deprivation

Figure 20 Flu vaccinations by gender

There were lower rates of vaccination of eligible patients for flu among the 2^nd and 3^rd most deprived quintiles, individuals of Black, mixed or ‘other’ ethnicity and among working age adults.

2.1.6. Cancer

The below tables show inequalities in percentage of cancers diagnosed at stage 1& 2.  [Data from 2024-2025]

Figure 21 Percentage of cancer diagnoses by stage and ethnicity

Figure 22 Percentage of cancer diagnoses by stage and deprivation

Figure 23  Percentage of cancer diagnoses by stage and gender

A lower proportion of cancers were diagnosed at stage 1-2 for individuals from more deprived deciles.

2.1.7. Cardiovascular disease

2.1.7.1. MI admissions

The below tables show the rates of myocardial infarction (MI) admissions. [Data from 31^st Dec 2024- 31^st Dec 2025]

Figure 24 MI admissions by ethnicity

Figure 25 MI admissions by age

Figure 26 MI admissions by deprivation

Figure 27 MI admissions by gender

Figure 28 MI admissions by borough

Individuals from the Asian ethnic group have a higher admission rate for heart attacks than other ethnic groups.

2.1.7.2. Stroke admissions

The below tables show the rates of admission for stroke. [Data from 31^st Dec 2024- 31^st Dec 2025]

Figure 29 Stroke admissions by ethnicity

Figure 30 Stroke admissions by age

Figure 31 Stroke admissions by deprivation

Figure 32 Stroke admissions by gender

Figure 33 Stroke admissions by borough

Individuals in the Black ethnic group and those from the most deprived quintile have much higher admission rates for stroke than other groups.

2.1.7.3. Hypertension management

The below tables show the percentage of patients aged 18 and over, with GP recorded hypertension, for whom the last blood pressure reading (measured in the preceding 12 months) is below the age-appropriate treatment. [Data from 10^th Feb 2025- 10^th Feb 2026]

Figure 34 Hypertension management by ethnicity

Figure 35 Hypertension management by age

Figure 36 Hypertension management by deprivation

Figure 37 Hypertension management by gender

Figure 38 Hypertension management by borough

Those in the most deprived two quintiles appear to be slightly less likely to have optimally managed hypertension.

2.1.7.4. Atrial fibrillation management

The below tables show the percentage of patients aged 18 and over, with GP recorded atrial fibrillation and a record of a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 or more, who are currently treated with anticoagulation drug therapy. [Data from 10^th Feb 2025- 10^th Feb 2026]

Figure 39 Anticoagulation drug therapy by ethnicity

Figure 40 Anticoagulation drug therapy by age

Figure 41 Anticoagulation drug therapy by deprivation

Figure 42 Anticoagulation drug therapy by gender

Figure 43 Anticoagulation drug therapy by borough

Individuals from Black and mixed ethnic groups appear to have slightly lower rates of appropriate therapeutic management of atrial fibrillation.

2.1.8. Learning disability health checks

The below tables show the population age 15+ on a QCF Learning Disabilities register.  Performance is calculated as those with a health check compared to all Learning Disability patients (excluding those who declined a health check), across the last 12 months of data. [Data from 10^th Feb 2025- 10^th Feb 2026]

Figure 44 LD health checks by ethnicity

Figure 45 LD health checks by age

Figure 46 LD health checks by deprivation

Figure 47 LD health checks by gender

Figure 48 LD health checks by borough

Those from more deprived quintiles and from mixed ethnic groups are slightly less likely to have had a learning disability health check in the last 12 months.

2.1.9. Inequalities in children’s emergency department attendances

The below tables show children and young people (CYP) emergency department attendances.  The data refers to attendances for under-18 year olds. [Data from 2024/25]

Figure 49 CYP ED attendance by ethnicity

Figure 50 CYP ED attendance by deprivation

Figure 51 CYP ED attendance by gender

There appear to be higher rates of ED attendances among Black and mixed ethnic group children and those from more deprived quintiles, and among male children. Where gender is not known or specified, figures might be misleading due to very small numbers.

2.1.10. Asthma – inequalities in asthma attendances

The below tables show CYP emergency attendances for asthma specifically. The data refers to attendances for under-18 year olds. [Data from 2024/25]

Figure 52 CYP ED attendances for asthma by ethnicity

Figure 53 CYP ED attendances for asthma by deprivation

Figure 54 CYP ED attendances for asthma by age

There appear to be higher rates of asthma A&E attendances among Asian and Black children and among children from more deprived quintiles, as well as among male children

2.1.11. Oral health

The below tables show tooth extractions for children admitted as inpatients to hospital, aged 10 years and under.  Note, the data covers the number of admissions, not the number of teeth extracted. The teeth extraction rate refers to the number of teeth extractions in the context of related population figures. [Data from 31^st Dec 2024-31^st Dec 2025]

The rate of tooth extractions for children admitted as inpatients appears to be higher for males, those in the 3 most deprived quintiles, and for Asian, Black and ‘other’ race children.

2.1.12. Mental health-Children and young people

The below tables show the proportion of CYP (under-18 year old) patients in mental health services versus the South West London population. [Data represents patients referred to MH services in the 12 months March 2025 to Feb 2026 inclusive]

Figure 55 CYP mental health patients by ethnicity

Figure 56 CYP mental health patients by age

Figure 57 CYP mental health patients by deprivation

Figure 58 CYP mental health patients by gender

Children from Caribbean and mixed white and Black African ethnic groups, those from more deprived deciles and females are overrepresented in mental health services.

2.1.13. Ethnicity Coding

Hospitals are encouraged to record the ethnicity of their patients.  The below tables show the percentage of hospital records, by South West London Trust, that have a valid ethnicity recorded. [Reporting period Nov 2025]

Figure 59 Ethnicity coding by acute provider

Figure 60 Ethnicity coding by mental health provider

Figure 61 Ethnicity coding by community provider

South West London providers score highly on completeness of ethnicity coding compared to national averages.

2.1.14. Limitations

This method is helping us to develop our understanding of inequalities in South West London, however, results can be affected by low population numbers. As inequality does not always mean inequity, we are using these insights alongside our understanding of population need when considering service design. However, we continually refine health insights dashboards to comply with guidance in the new NHS Statement of Information on Health Inequality. In the future we hope to also integrate trend information to monitor how interventions impact on health inequalities.

2.2. Understanding intersectionality and risk factors

Alongside routine quantitative data, we gained qualitative insights from specific PLUS groups, providing nuanced understanding of intersectionality’s impact on experience.  For example, in 2023, Kingston Race and Equalities Council (KREC) was commissioned by NHS South West London to help understand racism and inequalities in health care services, publishing their report in 2025.

This explored how specific risk factors and barriers, such as transport, language and digital skills, affect different groups. The report found that the key barriers to accessing healthcare services were experiences of bias, discrimination and racism, intersectionality, lack of access to language and interpretation services, financial challenges, digital exclusion and feelings of being misunderstood (see Figure 62).  Several recommendations were made, which are being picked up by the Health Equity Partnership Group. 

Figure 62 Insights gained from communities as part of the KREC report[1]

[1] SWL-Anti-Racism-report_v4-FINAL.pdf

Another PLUS group, where in-depth work has been carried out, is the homeless population. There is a pan-London co-occurring conditions programme led by Transformation Partners in Health and Care and overseen by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. It focusses on improving coordination between mental health and substance misuse for homeless populations. NHS South West London works with inclusion health leads from other ICBs on this programme.

In 2025, South West London ICB, with the GLA, undertook an exercise to assess how services and pathways meet the needs of people experiencing multiple disadvantages, especially those with co-occurring mental health and substance use issues. The outputs are currently being worked on with local authority public health teams. They include establishing a South West London good practice network, workforce development guidance, a community of practice for palliative care and increasing the number of accredited safe surgeries. To date, 80% of general practices are committed to removing barriers to GP registration and care for people who are excluded, marginalised or in vulnerable circumstances.

3. Acting on reducing health and healthcare inequalities

Throughout 2025/26, we continued to embed NHS England’s Core20PLUS approach for healthcare and worked through our South West London Health Equity Partnership Group and Place level Prevention and Health Inequalities Boards, which execute local strategies for reducing health inequalities. We supported the evaluations of South West London and Place based projects that had been funded by the South West London Health Inequalities Investment Fund, disseminating learning where possible. We continued to deliver outreach immunisations and interventions to increase vaccine acceptancy and worked with partners across the system to improve access to health checks. Further details are provided below under ‘Improving uptake and coverage of immunisation

3.1. Community empowerment and outreach

Community empowerment is the process of enabling communities to increase control over their lives. South West London has many different types of community link worker including social prescribers. We also deliver health and wellbeing checks in the community and are working on developing integrated neighbourhood teams.

One of our well-known models is community health and wellbeing workers. Based on a model successfully implemented in Brazil, and mentioned in the NHS 10 Year Plan, they are considered a best practice example of neighbourhood working. The model consists of individuals from a neighbourhood, trained in a wide range of health and social care issues, who visit households in their own community. During 2025/26, we undertook evaluations of the projects.   

The model was first introduced in Battersea, Wandsworth in 2023 and extended in 2024 to the remaining five boroughs with funding from the South West London Health Inequalities Investment Fund. Each programme had two full-time community health and wellbeing workers, part-time service management and clinical supervision through the participating general practices. 

The programme reached between 20-30% of target households (approximately 500 to 1,400). Clinical records showed an increased uptake of preventative opportunities such as breast cancer screening and flu vaccinations. Strong pathways were developed at neighbourhood and borough level, including with local housing associations and teams, welfare advice, mental health services and local community groups and activities.

Community health and wellbeing workers were able to build trust, find hidden needs, give a voice to people often overlooked, reduce inappropriate GP use and improve uptake of preventative opportunities.

Residents demonstrated improved wellbeing and greater confidence managing their own health. The programme has continued in three boroughs with funding secured locally. We are now working on how to embed and scale the model, including developing a framework for community health and wellbeing workers, with best practice examples. 

We use our population health data and community insights to target specific groups and ensure their voices are heard in the design and development of services, for example in the rollout of the weight loss medication Tirzepatide to priority groups in primary care.  

There has been a particular focus on understanding service user experiences across the maternity and neonatal system. we have carried out ongoing engagement and outreach on inequalities in gestational age at booking. A significant emphasis has been placed on engaging with CORE20PLUS communities and recognising that targeted outreach is essential for improving inclusion, access, and equity in maternity and neonatal care.

South West London providers also offer parental craft classes in different languages to ensure women are informed about their maternity care and there are forums to support targeted populations. As part of this work, we have scheduled coffee mornings at the Croydon Family Hub for women from CORE20PLUS populations. This provides a supportive space to discuss their maternity journeys, including topics such as booking and self-referrals, birth choices, pre-conception support, pain relief used in labour, six-week postnatal checks, and signposting to relevant services.

3.2. Reducing digital exclusion

South West London previously published a Digital Inclusion Toolkit informed by the NHS Digital Inclusion Framework. The toolkit identifies wards at risk of digital exclusion using the Digital Exclusion Risk Index (DERI). All digital projects are required to assess their impact on patient usage and, in particular, how patients unable to use digital tools are supported. Recently, a digital exclusion evaluation was conducted for South West London’s digital health self-management app (GetUBetter). The app complies with W3C’s web content accessibility guidelines, has features in multiple languages and was co-designed with users, leading to more video-based and less text-based content, to improve inclusivity. The ICB employs practice co-ordinators who provide face to face support within primary care, aimed at increasing use of digital tools. 

3.3 Reducing tobacco dependency

In 2024/25, we implemented a tobacco dependency programme across all our hospitals. This hospital-based prevention programme delivers advice and personalised stop smoking services to inpatients, and maternity and mental health patients who want to quit smoking.

In 2025/26, we continued to commission a maternity tobacco dependence treatment service in our four maternity units (Croydon, Epsom & St Helier, Kingston & Richmond and St George’s). Smoking prevalence is higher among lower-income groups and people in deprived areas. In collaboration with the ICB’s maternity team, trusts provide safe treatment and support to all pregnant women identified as current smokers. This programme helps implement the national priorities of universal  smoking monitoring for pregnant women under the NHS Long Term Plan and reducing smoking in pregnancy as part of the Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle.

Provisional data for 25/26 (up to 30 September 2025) showed that 2.5% of pregnant women in South West London were known smokers at time of delivery, below the national Smokefree 2020 target of 4%. 

3.4. Growing inclusivity in research

Improving inclusivity in research is a priority in South West London. Throughout 2025/26, we worked through our South West London Health Research Collaborative and NHS England/National Institute of Health Research’s Research Engagement Network-funded initiatives to build trust with communities who are often underserved or excluded. 

For three years, we have received NIHR funding to grow inclusivity in research. We do this in several ways but primarily through funding ‘research cafes’ and the South West London Research Support Network. Researchers in South West London NHS Trusts and  universities partner with local voluntary sector organisations and community groups to raise awareness about research practices and encourage participation in locally relevant studies. This year we have run eight research cafes, meeting a diverse range of individuals with over 60% of attendees coming from Black communities.   

The South West London Research Support Network has played a vital role in enhancing community engagement with research initiatives. Through the monthly cafes, the network has provided opportunities for individuals to share experiences, learn more about research processes and develop the skills needed to become active contributors or even leaders in research projects.

These efforts have helped foster trust, build capacity and ensure that the voices of underrepresented communities are included in shaping the research landscape in South West London. To date, the network has reached over 1,000 people. 

We continue to support our evaluation ambassadors, most of whom come from grassroots VCSE organisations. Their leadership in mentoring others, supporting evaluation planning and promoting inclusive approaches has strengthened local research capacity.  

This year we undertook a Regional Research Delivery Network-funded study to explore how to increase GP engagement in research.  Through this, we furthered our learning in how to develop long-term inclusion models by training peer researchers from underserved communities. We also learned how to co-ordinate inclusion efforts and ensure culturally appropriate settings and materials. 

3.5. Improving uptake and coverage of immunisations

Coverage of immunisations varies greatly across South West London.  The lowest coverage across all age ranges can be seen in Croydon (north and central), east Merton, areas across Wandsworth and some immunisation programmes in Richmond. The ICB participates in all borough-led immunisation steering groups to support public health initiatives and is undertaking several projects with the aim of increasing coverage across all age ranges. 

Health Visitor Pathfinder Programme

The ICB, in collaboration with Croydon Council and Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, was successful in bidding for funds to participate in the national Health Visitor Pathfinder Programme, alongside two other London boroughs. This pilot is part of government’s manifesto commitment to ‘enable vaccinations for babies and children as part of health visits’. The service will identify and contact parents of partially or unvaccinated children under five and offer scheduled and opportunistic immunisations including home visits where necessary.  The pilot programme runs from mid-February until November 2026.  Croydon Health Services will concentrate on north Croydon practices, rolling out more widely if capacity allows. 

MMR community pharmacy project

This is an ICB-led project with the aim of improving MMR coverage in patients aged five to 19 by offering vaccination at pharmacies. It also aims to help us understand whether pharmacies can help increase uptake rates in hard to engage cohorts.

The project has partnered GP practices in low uptake areas with a pharmacy contracted to provide MMR. The practice provides information on patients who have missed their MMR to allow the pharmacist to operate a call and recall service alongside the offer of vaccination.  The pharmacist is also able to assist the practice if immunisation data is missing, by supporting the patient to provide vaccination evidence. The project ran from 13 January until 31^t March 2026.   

Community engagement

Our outreach team held 315 pop-up clinics and engagement events across South West London, providing Covid and flu vaccinations (including for children aged two to three years old). The team works with community groups such as Age UK, family hubs, children’s centres and  libraries to arrange clinics and attend meetings to talk about immunisation.

The ICB has funded a programme of work led by Croydon BME forum to increase uptake of Covid and flu vaccinations, particularly among Black heritage populations and those who are immunosuppressed. The programme focussed on collaborating with influential faith and community leaders  to engage in conversation about vaccination.  

Leaders hosted events aimed at sharing accurate information with their communities, primarily in churches and community centres. Covid and flu vaccinations for those eligible were provided where appropriate.  Resources including webinars and YouTube videos were created and circulated to contacts and partners. This work is being extended to include areas in north and east Merton for 2026/27.

Staff training

The ICB has hosted several training sessions during 2025/26 to give staff the confidence to initiate discussions about immunisations and explain the benefits.  Attendees have come from GP, community pharmacies, the health visitor service and the voluntary sector. 

Training has included:

• Delivery of Two Jitsuvax (Empathetic Refutational Interview) in person training sessions to address vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccine acceptance
• Four in person HPV training provided by MDS at different locations across SLW attended by Healthy Schools Coordinators, Practice immunisation leads, practice nurses, South West London outreach team
• Six training sessions covering the changes to the childhood immunisation schedule attended by practice immunisation leads, practice nurses, community pharmacy MMR sites and health visitors selected representation from the voluntary sector.

Communication

We have created new digital content to help people understand the importance of being vaccinated.  For autumn 2025 this was extended to specific content on the importance of being vaccinated if you are immunosuppressed, including videos featuring local respiratory clinicians highlighting the impact of rising flu rates in our hospitals. Targeted digital advertising was used to reach low uptake areas and translated materials and leaflets were shared via the voluntary sector.  Campaign materials were seen over 12 million times – this includes billboards and advertising in Core20PLUS5 areas across all six boroughs and via the Croydon Tram network.  Additional support was provided with specific patient leaflets for people living with sickle cell and HIV. 

Call and recall initiative for shingles and pneumococcal

This programme is funded by GSK and uses a third-party provider (Chase People) to give practices extra capacity for call and recall. It is an opt-in programme that provides administrative support.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in community pharmacies

The ICB has worked with NHS England to commission RSV vaccinations in community pharmacies in low uptake areas across London, including 10 pharmacies across Croydon, Wandsworth, Merton and Sutton. Of these, six are now live and vaccinating. Routine and catch up vaccinations are available to older adults and pregnant women.

RSV Making Every Contact Count (MECC) – opportunistic vaccination of housebound patients

We are worked with providers vaccinating housebound residents in older adult care homes during the spring Covid season to opportunistically offer the RSV vaccination to those who had missed a dose.

HPV – working with RM Partners and school age vaccination providers.

RM Partners are working in partnership with the South London Childern & Young People Community Immunisation Services team (CYCIS) to increase the uptake of the HPV vaccination to 73% of students in years 8 to 10 by the end of the summer 2027 – with no school to have an uptake of less than 50% at the end of the summer term 2026.  The programme will be delivered through communication and awareness in communities along with school-based interventions to amplify work already being undertaken by vaccine partners.

Immunisation coordinators

South West London has three full-time immunisation coordinators, funded by NHS England, who work with practices to improve uptake. The coordinators arrange frequent visits to low-uptake practices and regular visits to those with moderate uptake to review processes and data. Their work is data-led using analysis to understand where vaccination rates are low.

They provide additional training and support to practices around child immunisation schedule changes and present the latest vaccination uptake​ data and work being done at a practice level at monthly borough meetings.  The coordinators also support many of the other uptake improvement projects listed above.

4. Governance for health equity work

A Health Equity Partnership Group was established in 2024. This group reports to the ICP and the ICB Board as well as the London Prevention and Health Equity Board.  South West London ICB’s chief executive is the SRO for prevention and health equity for London, along with Professor Kevin Fenton, Regional Director of Public Health. 

During 2025/26, the Health Equity Partnership Group was involved in testing the National Health Inequality Assurance Framework, designed to support integrated care boards to assess progress on tackling health inequalities against strategic objectives and commissioning plans. 

We also reviewed the impact of the group using a Delphi methodology to build consensus around what is working well and areas for improvement. This review was timely, given the significant system changes, such as the evolving ICB role and ICP dissolution. It highlighted challenges in aligning governance among partners to address health inequalities and where collective efforts where best placed.  It also found areas to focus on within our system and make practical steps to reducing inequalities.  These are being picked up in our workplan going forward. 

Throughout the work of the Health Equity Partnership Group and other boards, the ICB remains committed to the view that the NHS can affect health inequalities through equitable access, addressing the social determinants of health and by being an anchor institution and employer while contributing to multi-agency action.