The Champs Directors met for their system leadership meeting on Friday 25th September 2026. The key messages from the meeting are below, along with items of good news and gratitude.
Alcohol harm update – Directors received an update from Ravi Menghani, Programme Manager for the Collaborative’s reducing harm from alcohol programme. Areas covered include the PROACT workstream, which works with Alcohol Care Teams to reduce hospital admissions, where there has been great success in the areas of competency frameworks, clinical supervision, learning events and producing helpful resources.
There was also an update on the education programme for primary care, community liver health checks, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the NHS Drink Free Days app campaign. A situational analysis, with support from the Local Government Association, is now planned to review the current position and outline system-level recommendations for future development.
Devolution – The Directors had a discussion around Devolution in both Cheshire and Warrington and Liverpool City Region on the new structures that are developing and to share learning.
Population health update – Ian Ashworth, NHS Director of Population Health in Cheshire and Merseyside, gave an update on the population health programme, including their partnership meeting, where the Workwell programme and outbreak pathways were covered. The ICB AGM was held on Thursday 24 September, where the All Together Smokefree programme was referenced and commissioning intentions were shared. The recording can be found here. A Winter vaccination task force was also launched on Wednesday 23 September, chaired by Dr Fiona Lemmens, Executive Clinical Director, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside.
Neighbourhood health – Tom Knight, Associate Director of Neighbourhood Development from NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, joined the Directors to give an update on Neighbourhood health. The first of two workshops, taking in views from all sectors, was held last week, which looked at governance and the second workshop will look at the blueprint/operating model. There is a new team within the ICB to support this work and link in with local areas. Tom agreed to share an update on how the work is progressing.
UKHSA update – Flu and Covid levels are increasing and this has resulted in some A&E attendances nationally and in the North West. It is thought that the flu season could arrive earlier this year but currently both Flu and Covid are at baseline levels. There are no cases of Measles at the moment, but there has been an outbreak of Salmonella due to imported eggs.
ADPH – The ADPH has produced a new position statement on Devolution.
The Director’s shared items of good news and gratitude:
- Knowsley Council launched their Public Spaces Protection Orders that prohibits smoking and vaping in areas such as children’s parks and around schools, which resulted in a radio interview with some local school children participating.
- Cheshire West and Chester Council have been the first to take part in the LGA peer reviews and the findings are overwhelmingly positive, with some helpful improvements recommended. The report will be shared in four weeks’ time.
- Halton Council have a new consultant in public health, Dr Ainee Khan, who will focus on engagement and community development, older people and mental health.
- Annie Doble has started as a consultant in public health in Sefton Council leading on Health Care Public Health, neighbourhoods and sexual health.
- Ian Ashworth thanked everyone involved in the celebration for All Together Smiling which has showed great success in increasing toothbrushing for children.
- Liverpool City Council is working with the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Trust to help develop Croxteth Park from a public health perspective.
