Wandsworth's Health and Wellbeing Board has discussed a series of initiatives aimed at tackling health inequalities, with a particular focus on improving the health outcomes for adults with learning disabilities.
During a meeting on Thursday, 12th February 2026, the board received an update on the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which includes a focus on Live Well
initiatives. This strategy, titled '19 Steps to Health and Wellbeing', aims to improve the health and wellbeing of Wandsworth residents by addressing inequalities, empowering communities, and promoting prevention. The Live Well
component includes progress on adult immunisations, various cancer screenings, and initiatives related to climate change and air quality. For adult immunisations, key work includes the rollout of the RSV vaccination program for pregnant women and older adults, and the 2025 winter vaccination program for flu and COVID-19. Cancer screening efforts are focused on improving coverage and uptake, particularly for underserved populations, through data analysis, targeted interventions, health education, and community engagement. Climate change initiatives encompass energy efficiency, adaptation and resilience, and engagement, while air quality efforts include training for health visitors and a pilot monitoring program for vulnerable homes.
A significant portion of the discussion centred on a seminar held at Share Community, which brought together board members and students with learning disabilities to share their experiences of healthcare. The seminar highlighted key themes including the experience of healthcare, physical activity and healthy eating, mental health and wellbeing, and social isolation. Participants emphasized the need for clearer communication from healthcare professionals, better support systems, and increased opportunities for independence and employment for individuals with learning disabilities.
Abi Carter, Chief Executive of Share Community and a representative on the Health and Wellbeing Board, noted the importance of amplifying the voices of people with learning disabilities and fostering social connections to reduce isolation. The board was urged to consider how to better serve this cohort, acknowledging that their health outcomes are often at the bottom of various statistics. Indeed, the 2021 Learning Disabilities Mortality Review (LeDeR) report highlighted that six out of 10 people with a learning disability die before the age of 65, compared to one out of 10 for people from the rest of the population. Approximately half of all deaths of people with a learning disability were deemed to be avoidable.
Regarding communication with healthcare professionals, the seminar found a significant need to almost decipher and translate what somebody with a learning disability or autism might mean when they say things like, I've seen somebody, they literally mean I saw them, not I went and had a cup of tea and a good chat about my feelings. It meant I saw them on the bus.
The recommendation stemming from this is that if we can pass on some of that understanding to medical profession, that might help them be able to then ask different kinds of questions to understand actually how people really are in their mental health and social isolation, et cetera.
In response to the seminar's findings, the board recommended noting the outputs, as set out in Appendix 1 [https://democracy.wandsworth.gov.uk/documents/s125356/Appendix%201.pdf]. Officers were asked to consider how these identified themes could be taken forward. This includes a commitment to improving health and wellbeing outcomes for people with learning disabilities and autistic adults, ensuring their voices are heard earlier in strategy development.
Concrete steps to improve support systems for adults with learning disabilities include empowering them by amplifying their voices, promoting independence and agency through targeted support with housing, independent travel, and access to services. Enhancing employment opportunities is also a focus, encouraging organisations to offer employment and internships, simplifying HR processes, and trialling new approaches to recognise and rebrand the unique skills of people with learning disabilities. The seminar also highlighted the importance of fostering social connections beyond structured programmes to reduce isolation and build community, as well as mapping and sharing resources and good practice from across South West London to improve training for front-line workers. Furthermore, the board will focus on improving health and wellbeing by addressing annual health checks and exploring health literacy. Arian, who could not attend the seminar, has been working with Share Community to develop training for trainee GPs on annual health checks and their accessibility.
To ensure increased opportunities for independence and employment, the board will focus on providing targeted support with housing, independent travel, and access to services, allowing individuals with learning disabilities to exercise greater choice and control in their lives. Encouraging organisations to offer employment and internships, simplifying HR processes, and trialling new approaches to recognise and rebrand the unique skills of people with learning disabilities are also key. The discussion highlighted the importance of major local employers demonstrating good practice in making accommodations for people with learning disabilities and autistic adults to drive up employment. Mentorship and a golden ticket system
whereby an individual working in an area is moved into an available post without an interview were also discussed as potential avenues.
Moving forward, the voices of people with learning disabilities will be integrated into strategy development by ensuring individuals have more opportunities to share their experiences and challenges, directly informing practices and services. The training for trainee GPs, focusing on annual health checks, will involve sessions with students on site. The Combating Drugs Partnership will also prioritize lived experience, incorporating the voices of those with lived experience, including families and carers, into all its work.
For more information, refer to the Public reports pack [https://democracy.wandsworth.gov.uk/documents/g9950/Public%20reports%20pack%2012th-Feb-2026%2013.00%20Health%20and%20Wellbeing%20Board.pdf?T=10] and the Seminar Report Appendix 1 [https://democracy.wandsworth.gov.uk/documents/s125300/Appendix%201%20-%20Seminar%20Report.pdf].
