Barking and Dagenham is gearing up for winter with a comprehensive plan that prioritises proactive care, community hubs, and preventative measures to support residents through the colder months. The Barking and Dagenham Winter Plan 2025/26 was discussed at a recent meeting of the Health & Wellbeing Board and ICB Sub-Committee.

The plan, developed with input from various partners, aims to complement existing services and address challenges identified in previous winters. The North East London Integrated Care Board (ICB) will support the plan with a wide-ranging communications campaign to ensure residents are aware of available services. The campaign will focus on three key strands: Right Care (running year-round), Bright Start in Life, and Winter Wellness, which includes the vaccination programme. The plan focuses on three key areas:

  • Proactive Population Health: Engaging in proactive care and support within neighbourhoods to keep residents well.
  • Optimising Flow: Improving patient flow through acute, mental health, and community trust sites.
  • Strengthening Access: Enhancing access to alternative pathways to reduce footfall in urgent and primary care settings.

Key actions outlined in the plan include:

  • Implementing the Eclipse risk stratification tool to identify residents needing proactive care.
  • Transitioning residents to Universal Care Plans, a digital platform for personalised care.
  • Launching a Falls Proactive Care Model and providing additional balance and falls classes.
  • Mobilising the Barking and Dagenham Transfer of Care Hub to streamline hospital discharges.
  • Piloting a crisis response car with advanced nursing and social interventions.
  • Providing a Community Respiratory Hub and proactive asthma reviews for children.

Kelvin Hankins, Deputy Director / Lead for Ageing Well, Barking and Dagenham Place Team, NEL ICB, presented the plan, noting it builds upon previous years' efforts and incorporates lessons learned. He highlighted the importance of engaging in proactive population health and optimising flow through healthcare sites.

The winter plan also includes a review of the Directory of Services to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date, and a winter planning session with care homes to understand their needs and provide support. The plan aims to provide a coordinated response to support residents during the winter period, building upon previous years and what the system agrees would provide additional support.