Barnet Primary Care Network (PCN) 6 has been spearheading neighbourhood working by collaborating with colleagues from public health at Barnet Council and Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprises, including Groundwork London and Maccabi GB, to promote childhood vaccination uptake in the community.

The first event featured a stall at a community fun run, where healthcare professionals engaged with local residents and provided information packs on childhood immunisations. This enabled discussions with hesitant parents about the benefits of immunisation, with staff encouraging them to contact their practice for an appointment.

Encouraged by the positive response, the PCN plans to organise further outreach activities, such as school visits and pop-up clinics in community centres, to make vaccination services more accessible. These efforts aim to build trust and awareness amongst families who may face barriers to accessing healthcare.

This approach exemplifies how collaborative, community-focused strategies can improve public health outcomes by breaking down barriers and fostering stronger relationships between healthcare providers and local residents.