A task group will be set up to assess the state of GP services in Brent in response to the changing face of healthcare in the borough.

Brent Council’s community and wellbeing scrutiny committee confirmed yesterday (Wednesday, March 24) that councillors would carry out the first “in-depth” review of the situation since 2015.

It will cover demand for GP services, whether there is sufficient provision in the borough, and how surgeries can help address health inequalities.

There will also be enquiries into the role of digital programmes in healthcare, and whether this will adversely affect parts of the community, as well as the wider impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on services.

According to a council report presented to the scrutiny committee, Brent faces “demographic pressures” with a growing population and, based on NHS data published in October, has 52 GP practices serving around 407,000 registered patients.

This is complicated further by deprivation levels in the borough, which are higher than the national average – often those living in poverty have greater health needs, which in turn puts more pressures on GPs.

Furthermore, Brent has a high percentage of residents from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds – again, studies have shown people from these communities face greater health inequalities, something highlighted by the pandemic.