Plan for Change in Barnet: Building an NHS Fit for the Future
The national Labour Plan for Change on the NHS has delivered over 5 million extra appointments, recruited 2,000 GPs, invested £680 million in mental health, and frozen prescription charges below £10. In Barnet, the local Health and Wellbeing Board is channelling a £20.9 million public health grant into a comprehensive programme of prevention, integration, and community health — building a borough where residents live longer in better health.
New Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy
In May 2025, Barnet’s Health and Wellbeing Board approved a new Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy with four priorities for improving population health across the borough, as confirmed by the Open Council Network Health and Wellbeing Board May 2025. This strategy replaces and builds on the previous phase, which saw 90.2% of planned actions on track or completed — a strong delivery record that gives confidence in the new commitments.
£20.9 Million Public Health Grant
Barnet’s public health ring-fenced grant for 2025/26 stands at £20,893,438, including an NHS pay awards uplift, as confirmed by the GOV.UK public health grant circular. This funding supports the full range of preventive public health services — from stop-smoking services and sexual health to mental health and community wellbeing programmes.
Food, Fitness, and Wellbeing
In March 2026, Barnet approved a new Food Action Plan 2026–28, setting out how the borough will improve access to healthy, affordable food for all residents, with particular focus on reducing food poverty and improving nutrition among children and families, as detailed in the Health and Wellbeing Board Committee Report March 2026.
The Fit and Active Barnet Framework provides a borough-wide approach to physical activity, working with schools, leisure providers, and community organisations to increase activity levels and reduce the health impacts of sedentary lifestyles.
Hospital Services: Royal Free London and North Middlesex
The merger of Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and North Middlesex University Hospital is bringing tangible improvements for Barnet residents. The cancer backlog has been reduced by 147 patients, and Emergency Department four-hour performance reached 73.6% in June 2025. Around £4 million in North Mid investments is supporting improved emergency, frailty, and integrated care services.
Integrated Care
Barnet is part of the North Central London Population Health and Integrated Care Strategy, with NCL ICB allocating 5% of its ICS capital to Barnet local care in 2025/26. A Primary Needs Assessment for 2025–28 was consulted upon between May and July 2025, setting the evidence base for future primary care investment decisions.
Read More
- Labour’s Plan for Change: NHS
- GOV.UK Public Health Grant 2025/26
- Barnet Health & Wellbeing Board Report March 2026
- Open Council Network — Health and Wellbeing Board May 2025
- Barnet Labour — NHS Fit for the Future
- Barnet Council — Public Health