We wanted to capture a snapshot of Neighbourhood working in practice. We’re pleased to say we now have a video based in each of the boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington.

“These examples shine a light on different stages of the Neighbourhood journey, from early conception to fully formed teams.

From Enfield’s Healthy Hearts Project to East Camden’s Integrated Neighbourhood Team, (these films) demonstrate the impact we can have and showcase the frontline teams working hard to overcome the barriers to integration and to deliver impact.

Case studies such as these also strengthen the evidence base for future work, which will develop quickly as we progress commissioning plans across the new West and North London ICB. Together, we are building something significant.”
Sarah McDonnell-Davies, Chief Transformation Officer, NHS North Central London and North West London Integrated Care Boards

Barnet’s Community Ageing Well Team
Camden’s first Integrated Neighbourhood Team
Enfield’s Healthy Hearts Project
Haringey Multi-Agency Care and Coordination Team
Meet Islington’s Integrated Network Coordination Team

We’d like to thank everyone working in partnership to set up and run Neighbourhood projects. These teams are helping residents avoid having to repeat their story multiple times, get referred quicker, but also get help for non-medical factors affecting health, like loneliness, housing, finances, being a carer and more.

Join the conversation about Neighbourhoods on LinkedIn

We are working closely with Enfield Council, Haringey Council, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), NHS England and system partners to coordinate our response, handle media enquiries, brief spokespeople, communicate with residents and reply to queries.

We are engaging with communities in the area of the outbreak, working with partners, faith leaders, Public Voice Haringey and the Bridge Renewal Trust.

Why are people so concerned about measles?
Measles is a very contagious, viral disease. It can have very serious implications.

Some children and babies who catch measles suffer life changing complications, including hearing loss, blindness, pneumonia, or brain swelling.

It is also dangerous to catch measles if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system. While many people recover, in rare cases, it can lead to long-term damage to the immune system, disability or even death.

The best protection from measles is through vaccination.

The MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine is proven to be extremely safe and very effective at protecting people from measles.

Unfortunately, our rates of vaccination in London are not high enough, and it is this which is helping measles to spread.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of measles include: rash, fever, sore red eyes, cough, sneezing, runny or blocked nose. Measles can cause seizures (fits).

The rash can be harder to see on brown or black skin, so check for white spots inside the mouth and eyelids.

Think you’ve got measles?
If you think you have measles (check measles symptoms), please isolate yourself if possible, and especially keep away from those at higher risk, including children under 1 year old, people with weakened immune systems and unvaccinated pregnant women.

If you need help, please phone or contact your GP practice online rather than visit in person, to stop the spread of measles. Call NHS 111 for advice.

Protect yourself and your family

• Please check whether you and your family have had both doses of the MMR vaccine (MMRV for some younger children).
• Adults who are unsure whether they have received two doses of MMR or measles vaccine should contact their GP practice.
• Children aged 1 year or older can be vaccinated through their GP practice.
• School aged children can be vaccinated at catch-up clinics. Book now at: www.schoolvaccination.uk/catch-up-clinics/catch-up-enfield. Children do not need to be registered with a GP to book at a catch-up clinic.
• Anyone not registered with a GP is strongly encouraged to do so as soon as possible to access free NHS vaccinations. Find out how: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-surgery/

More on measles
Dr Jo Sauvage, Chief Medical Officer, NCL ICB said on LinkedIn: “People have probably heard that we are experiencing an outbreak of measles in North London. It’s worrying and uncomfortable to see a disease that we can prevent returning in this way. But it does remind us why vaccination matters so much… read more“

The Department for Health and Social Care has published The National Cancer Plan, which sets out a bold, long-term approach to improving cancer outcomes, experience and equity over the next decade.

Shaped by lived experience, the Plan focuses on earlier diagnosis, improved performance, better quality of life and reducing inequalities, embedding the three shifts and new care model from the 10 Year Health Plan into cancer pathways. The central ambition is that by 2035, three in four people diagnosed with cancer will be cancer-free, or living well with cancer after five years, delivering the fastest improvement in cancer survival this century.

The Plan has been welcomed by the North Central London Cancer Alliance, which works with hospital trusts, health and social care organisations and other partners to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care across the five boroughs of North Central London (NCL) – Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington.

Ali Malik, Managing Director, North Central London Cancer Alliance, said:

“We are excited to respond to the priorities and ambitions in the Plan, building on our progress to date in North Central London. In many respects our work already aligns to the Government’s three shifts – hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention – and our plans to increase innovation, partnership and prevention will boost the progress we are seeing.

“We are ready to take on the stronger local cancer leadership role laid out in the Cancer Plan and can move quickly to begin implementation of the new operating model.”

In North Central London (NCL), we’re making strong progress in improving cancer care. The latest data shows that more people are surviving cancer, and they’re being diagnosed and treated sooner.

Between 2010 and 2020, one‑year cancer survival in NCL increased by 8.4%, and five‑year survival rose by 5.9%. Early diagnosis has also improved by 9.8% between 2018 and 2025.  Over the last year, our performance against the 62‑day cancer waiting time standard improved by 18.2%, meaning more people are starting treatment sooner.

The National Cancer Plan showcases two NCL case studies, highlighting exemplary work and innovative approaches to tackling health inequalities and making a real difference for our local residents:

1. Building the evidence base for HPV self‑sampling
   The YouScreen study, carried out by carried out by King’s College London, and supported by North Central and North East London Cancer Alliances and several other partners, tested HPV self‑sampling as an easier alternative to traditional cervical screening for women and people with a cervix who face barriers to attending appointments. Across five London boroughs, more than 27,000 self‑sampling kits were offered and nearly 9,000 were returned, with strong uptake from ethnic minority and deprived communities. The success of the study showed how self‑sampling can reduce health inequalities. In June 2025, the government announced that HPV self‑sampling will be rolled out nationally for those who miss their cervical screening.
2. REACH‑U: Improving Prostate Cancer Support for Black Men
   Black men are twice as likely to develop and die from prostate cancer. To address cultural and informational barriers affecting treatment decisions, University College London Hospitals (UCLH) launched REACH‑U in 2024. The programme pairs Black African and Afro‑Caribbean men with trained non‑clinical “buddies” who offer culturally sensitive support outside the hospital, helping to ease worries and guide informed choices. In its first year, 41 men were referred. After buddy support, 60% chose radical treatment and 17% opted for active surveillance. Feedback has been highly positive, and North Central London Cancer Alliance is now expanding the programme to support men from the point of referral.

To find out more about the work of the North Central London Cancer Alliance visit their website.

NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB) is launching Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child, a practical guide created by parents and carers, for parents and carers. Originally developed by the Essex Family Forum and Parent Carer Forum in Essex, this resource combines real-life experiences, practical tips, and trusted information from the NHS and national charities.

The booklet has been developed as part of the National Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in schools (PINS) programme funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and supported by NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The guide covers key topics including understanding neurodiversity, early help, the diagnostic process, education and school support, daily life with a neurodivergent child, sensory needs, and social and emotional development. It also provides links to further reading, videos, and blogs, making it easy for families to access the support they need.

The booklet has been adapted to reflect local services across Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, and Islington and will be available on borough SEND Local Offer websites, parent forum sites as well as hosted on the dedicated Autism and ADHD support pages on the Waiting Room website.

“I shared the booklet with my team last week and we are all really impressed. We love that is covers a wide range of issues/information.” (NCL partner organisation)

“This seems exactly the type of thing I was looking for when my son was diagnosed many years ago.” (NCL parent)

WorkWell is a voluntary service, jointly sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care, designed to offer optional support to disabled people, or people with health conditions, who would like support to stay at work, are planning to return to work after an absence, or who are looking for a new job.  

The service offers support to people aged 16 or older who live in (or are registered with a GP within) 13 boroughs in North West and North Central London. 

It’s delivered through a partnership including local NHS trusts, GPs, local authorities, Jobcentre Plus, and a delivery partner – employment charity, The Shaw Trust.  

Since its launch in October 2024, WorkWell has supported over 6,400 disabled people and/or people with health conditions across North West and North Central London to find, remain in, or return to work after a period of absence. 

Participants are matched to a Work and Health coach. Referrals are possible from a number of routes, including self-referral, via their GP, or Jobcentre Plus (the three most frequently used). The coach supports the participant to develop a personalised work and health plan.   

The voluntary programme is open to anyone who would like support, regardless of benefit status, whose ability to work is affected by health conditions or disabilities. Participants must be 16 years of age or older.  

The confirmation of the national rollout means that the WorkWell programme in North London, will receive funding to enable it to continue, as part of the national announcement.  

Sarah Morgan, Chief People Officer at North Central and North West London Integrated Care Boards, said: “We are delighted at this very welcome news. I am pleased that our programme in North London has helped evidence the power and potential impact of what can happen when we break down the barriers between health and employment services.  

“We know that work is a vital part of supporting people’s overall health and wellbeing.  

“Many of the people our teams have seen and helped are experiencing very challenging and difficult periods in their lives, but we have seen so many powerful examples of how offering the option of help, at any early stage, can make a huge difference. 

She added: “The confirmation of multi-year funding will mean we can do even more, knowing we can plan the service for the future.” 

One in five people who are signed off work for more than four weeks do not return to work; and there are nearly three million people off work due to health needs in the UK.   

Chris Luck, Chief Executive at the Shaw Trust, the employment charity which is delivering the service across North London, in partnership with the ICBs and West London Alliance, said: “We’ve seen first-hand the difference WorkWell can make in our work supporting over 6,400 people in North West and North Central London, as part of the initial pilot programme. 

“We welcome the expansion of the service to support people nationwide, and look forward to seeing its future impact.” 

Success Stories
Julie and Jay* both faced job loss due to health struggles. With WorkWell’s help, they got the right support, found flexible work options, and regained financial stability. 

Julie, who experienced a miscarriage and soon after lost her job, said: “My Work and Health Coach referred me to therapy and, thanks to her swift action, I am now feeling significantly better. My coach has also helped me to gain a permanent job, which has given me stability and security. Her support has made a significant difference in my life and in my journey toward better health and wellbeing.”  

 Jay struggled to find work since he graduated from university. He had a stroke and experienced problems with coordination and his mental health. Through WorkWell, Jay’s confidence and wellbeing have improved and he has recently signed up with a recruitment agency.  

He said working with the Shaw Trust has been: “insightful and supportive”, adding: “It made me feel comfortable seeking help. WorkWell has helped me to manage a balance between reality and ambition going forward on how to achieve my personal goals and success.”  

*Names changed. 

Get Support Today
If you live in or are registered with a GP in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey or Islington, find out more: WorkWell North Central London 

If you live in or are registered with a GP in Brent, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hounslow, Hillingdon, Ealing, Westminster, or Kensington & Chelsea, find out more: WorkWell North West London 

Have your say on proposals to relocate Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to a new world class facility at Watford General Hospital

From Monday 19 January, members of the public, patients, staff and stakeholders can share their views on proposals to relocate the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to a new, purpose-built facility next to Watford General Hospital, managed by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).

The launch of the public consultation comes after an announcement earlier this month which set out a plan to secure the future of specialist cancer services for more than two million people, around half of who live in the East of England.

With plans already approved for a new Watford General Hospital, this proposal, if approved after the consultation, would add world class cancer services to the site, creating a centre of excellence in Watford.

Simon Wood, Programme Leader for NHS England in the East of England, said:

“Securing a future for Mount Vernon is great news for patients in the region. These proposals would enable us to bring together two brilliant services to create a world-class centre of excellence.

“We now want to hear from patients, staff and other interested stakeholders on what benefits, as well as what challenges, this proposal may bring.”

Modern cancer care increasingly relies on the support of a range of on-site medical and surgical services, including Accident and Emergency and critical care. Therefore, the new, purpose-built cancer centre would provide all of that essential access in modern facilities, along with more space for innovation, research and training. It would continue to serve patients across Hertfordshire, north west London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and east Berkshire.

The proposals for Mount Vernon Cancer Centre have been drawn up over the last few years with the help of patients and staff following an independent review that found specialised cancer services would not be able to continue at the existing site. The lack of other key support services has limited the number of patients the centre can treat and has led to some trials and treatments no longer being offered to patients.

Extending the scope of the redevelopment of Watford General Hospital to include the cancer centre means efficiencies could be made through joint construction, project and other arrangements to reduce the individual cost of both hospitals and thereby deliver the extended scope without increasing the overall cost to taxpayers.

Subject to the outcome of consultation and satisfactory completion of the necessary due diligence, the management of the services provided by Mount Vernon Cancer Centre would transfer from East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust to University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).

Matthew Coats, chief executive of West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said:

“Expanding the Watford General scheme to include Mount Vernon Cancer Centre would be a major step forward in delivering both a world class cancer centre and a state-of-the-art hospital, which would benefit patients, our communities and our brilliant staff.

“We’re very grateful for the partnership with UCLH, a world-leading healthcare organisation, and other NHS partners who we are delighted to work with on what we believe to be a flagship opportunity to bring to life the ambitions in the 10-year plan.”

David Probert, chief executive at UCLH, said:

“We are delighted that funding has now been agreed for the proposal to relocate Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to a new purpose-built facility in Watford. We look forward to working with West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and other partners following the outcome of the consultation, to deliver a long-awaited and sustainable future for this important centre.”

The online consultation can be found on the Mount Vernon Cancer Services Review website (mvccreview.nhs.uk).

There will be both online and in-person opportunities to take part. Details of how you can share your views, plus dates of public meetings (both in-person and online) are available via the Get Involved page of the Mount Vernon Cancer Services Review website.

The public consultation will close on Sunday 29 March 2026.

Congratulations to Amanda Pritchard, NHS England’s previous Chief Executive, who has been honoured for her services to the NHS in London, receiving a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE).

More locally, congratulations go to everyone connected to North Central London who have been recognised. This includes Members of the Order of the British Empire (OBEs) for services to the NHS for:

• Professor Andrew Patrick Arthur STEPTOE FBA FMedSci Professor of Psychology and Epidemiology, University College London for services to behavioural science
• Marion Anne STOKER Director of Children and Family Services, Enfield Council for services to social work.

With Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBEs) for services to the NHS for:

• Dr Dominique Fara ALLWOOD Lately Chief Medical Officer, UCL Partners and Director of Population Health, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
• Judith Frances DEWINTER BEM Chair, Royal Free Charity.

See our New Year Honours update on LinkedIn if you would like to comment and share.

Quitting smoking is one of the most powerful New Year’s resolutions you can make for your health and future. The NHS is here to support you every step of the way with free tools and guidance. It may feel tough at first, but you’re not alone – help is available. Stop Smoking London has outlined six simple steps to set you on the path to a smoke free 2026.

The six actions for 2026 are:

1. Make a list of reasons to stop smoking – Start strong this New Year. Make a list of the reasons you want to stop smoking: your health, family, money, or simply feeling better every day. Having your reasons written down will help keep you focused when motivation dips.
2. Use free local services and stop smoking aids like nicotine replacement therapy – You don’t need to feel alone. Your local stop smoking service can offer free, expert support, nicotine replacement therapies, or a vape to help you quit. Getting the right support increases your chances of success.
3. Pick your quit date – Choosing a quit date gives you a clear goal. Set a date, make a plan and get ready to start 2026 smoke free. Small steps make a big difference.
4. Get your support in place – Let friends and family know your plan. Reach out to your local stop smoking service. Get stop smoking aids ready. Having support lined up makes it much easier to stay on track.
5. Be prepared for triggers – Think ahead about situations that might make you want to smoke. Stress, drinking, certain places or routines. Plan how you’ll deal with them so you stay in control.
6. Download the Smoke Free App – Track your progress, stay motivated and get daily support with the Smoke Free App. It’s a simple way to build confidence and keep going, wherever you are.

Further information and where to get help

For more information about how you can have a healthier, smoke free 2026, visit the Stop Smoking London website.

To get FREE stop smoking support, contact your local service on:

• Barnet: Barnet Stop Smoking Service
• Camden: Breathe Stop Smoking Service 
• Enfield: Smokefree Enfield – A Stop Smoking Service
• Haringey: One You Haringey
• Islington: Breathe Stop Smoking Service

Your local pharmacy offers a range of services to help you stay well and can provide expert advice and treatment for minor health issues, without needing an appointment.

The table below provides the opening hours for pharmacies in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington over the Christmas and New Year period. There may be other pharmacies open which are not listed here.

If the pharmacy you would like to visit is not listed, you can check their opening hours by searching at www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy or by calling 111.

Additionally, some pharmacies may close early on  Wednesday 24 December and Wednesday 31 December, however you can check their opening hours by searching at www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy or by calling 111.

NHS 111 – for urgent dental care and mental health help

If you need urgent dental care go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111. Use 111.nhs.uk if you have severe toothache, have knocked out a tooth, have a painful lump or swelling or think you need urgent care.

If you need urgent help for your mental health, get help from NHS 111 online or call 111.

Local health and care services

For more tips on how to stay well this winter visit www.londonwinterwellness.nhs.uk