Lewisham's Health Equity Teams (HETs) have successfully engaged over 1,100 residents in community-based health activities, with a significant focus on cardiovascular health checks. The initiative, which partners GP leads with Black-led community organisations, identified 113 abnormal results requiring follow-up between October 2025 and March 2026.
The HET programme aims to embed community-centred prevention and proactive population health management within primary care systems. The long-term ambition is to establish a sustainable model embedding enduring partnership funding for Black-led voluntary sector organisations alongside primary care. Further impact at reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and supporting reduction in CVD risk factor metrics, such as blood pressure, weight reduction, urine ACRs, and blood sugars, are expected to be demonstrated over the course of the programme as interventions continue with high-risk populations.
Dr Aaminah Verity, Community Practice Lead for Health Equity at SEL ICB and GP at Deptford Surgery, presented the update to the Health and Wellbeing Board. Across the six Health Equity Teams, 393 cardiovascular checks were delivered, including blood pressure, urine ACR screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD), and atrial fibrillation screening. Of these, 300 were conducted through community outreach and 93 through proactive GP-based care.
Several HETs showcased their work: Modality PCN partnered with Therapy 4 Healing for cardiovascular disease screening and group consultations. Aplos PCN, working with Africa Advocacy Foundation, focused on co-designing annual review templates for patients with severe mental illness and cardiovascular disease. Sevenfields PCN, in collaboration with Diversity and Wellbeing, targeted young Black men in barbershops for hypertension and CKD screening.
North Lewisham PCN, with Red Ribbon Living Well, ran community champion programmes for CVD screening and healthy hearts campaigns. Lewisham Care Partnership, alongside Mabadiliko, implemented a group consultation model for CVD, and Lewisham Alliance PCN, with Coco Collective, ran a 'Plantain program' for hypertensive patients.
Councillor Aliya Sheikh raised a pertinent question regarding ensuring equitable reach to all diverse communities within Lewisham. Dr Verity responded by emphasizing the hyper-local approach of each team and the principle of proportionate universalism, focusing efforts on communities with the poorest outcomes.
The programme has also focused on workforce development. A borough-wide Health Equity Protected Learning Time session in February 2026 was attended by over 300 primary care staff. HETs have supported the delivery of neighbourhood-level hypertension training events alongside the Integrated Care System, reaching 60-80 residents at two engagement events. Additionally, six school sixth forms in Lewisham are involved through the Lewisham Challenge programme for work experience pathways. The HET programme has received national and regional recognition, including being shortlisted for an MJ Award.
The current cycle of the HET programme runs until March 2027, with a mid-cycle review planned for July 2026. The specific skills imparted to primary care staff are not explicitly detailed, beyond the general aim of promoting health equity and hypertension training.
