Spring grants 2025 insight report Merton Place

Healthy communities and healthy hearts

Executive Summary

The South West London (SWL) 2025 spring engagement programme in Merton focused on understanding local residents’ access to NHS services, healthy lifestyle behaviours, and views on cardiovascular disease (“healthy hearts”), particularly among Core20 and underserved communities.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of preventable early deaths with high prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and other CVD risk factors leading to avoidable pressures and costs on the health and care system. Across South West London, and as part of the London Million Hearts and Minds programme there is the ambition to make a step change in heart health and to close health equity gaps.

12 local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations were funded to deliver 32 activities and to have in-depth conversations with 270 people from a range of ethnicities, socio-economic and health backgrounds.

Key borough wide findings:

• Pressures on wellbeing and daily life: Financial struggles, poor housing, caring responsibilities and other pressures particularly affect those in East Merton, making it harder to sustain healthy habits. Loneliness and social isolation also significantly harm heart and mental health.
• Access to NHS services: People experienced difficulties in booking GP appointments with long waits and cancellations.
• Value of community and social support: peer support, group activities and safe spaces to talk openly were valued.  Community groups, social activities help to provide purpose, reduce loneliness and encourage healthy behaviours.
• Building trust through inclusive care: discrimination, stigma and a lack of safe, culturally sensitive spaces within health services reported particularly from Global Majority and LGBTQ+ communities.  Digital exclusion, with online systems creating barriers increases stress and limits people’s access to services.

Key healthy hearts findings:

• Looking after your heart can be difficult without clear advice or support, delays in seeking help due to unrecognised symptoms. Need for more community-led awareness sessions and support to understand risks and healthy behaviours.
• Delays in seeking help until the issue becomes severe or continuous due to low confidence in GP access and fear of overburdening the NHS.  
• Awareness of signs and symptoms for cardiovascular diseases but more information needed on what else to look out for particularly if there are differences in symptoms for men and women.
• Pharmacies are trusted easily accessible and approachable in their communities.
• Confusion on where to go for information about heart health and find out about support services and available activities rather than relying on word of mouth.
• Bias and inequality make heart health support feel inaccessible with concerns that symptoms are not always taken seriously and fear of over-medicalisation among Global Majority communities.
• Lack of heart health activities in existing community settings with requests for blood pressure checks, for example during group activities to help identification of warning signs 

Next steps

The insight in this report is presented by ward to support a neighbourhood approach.
The findings from this report are being shared with our local and health partners in Merton and across South West London.

Introduction

This report details the feedback we received in Merton borough during our South West London 2025 spring engagement programme. This involved working with community organisations primarily, working with our Core20 populations and in our more deprived areas, providing a voice to the most marginalised and underserved. We offered grants of up to £550 to VCSE organisations to hold activities with these populations to help us understand these communities’ access to and experience of local NHS services, as well as their behaviours in maintaining healthy lifestyles. 

Our approach for this phase changed to have more of a focus on gathering qualitative feedback, rather than sharing communication messages – as we did in the Winter phase. Funding was targeted based on health inequalities.

In each borough there was a particular area of focus. In Merton, this was cardiovascular disease (healthy hearts). However, we kept the conversations broad to really understand what was important to local people. We chose healthy hearts because we know that 7% of adults live with circulatory disease in Merton (Live Well needs assessment) with many more people facing undiagnosed hypertension.  We focused engagement in East Merton as higher levels of preventable CVD mortality are among populations living in more deprived areas – a summary of existing evidence relating to CVD can be found in Appendix A.

Tackling cardiovascular disease is one of the key prevention priorities in the Merton Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025–30.  By focusing on healthy hearts, we aimed to understand how people in Merton are managing their heart health, what support and information they need, and how local services and systems can better respond to the wider pressures that shape cardiovascular health.

To support the move to neighbourhood working, we have organised the data by key neighbourhood areas in Merton (mapped by ward and where possible Primary Care Networks). We did this by mapping the reach of activities and to the geographies where they took place. This doesn’t mean the organisations only work in these areas, but it makes it easier to look at the data in a new way – the Merton map can be found in Appendix B.

Methodology

To support programme delivery and coordination, we worked with Merton Connected who held trusted relationships with local groups and were able to provide knowledge and expertise to successfully deliver the work.

Grants were awarded based on who the organisation could reach and how closely their approach matched with people and communities we wanted to hear from, as well as their engagement approach.

Across south west London, we worked with 87 organisations reaching 6,019 local people from 57 ethnicities. In Merton, we awarded health communities grants to 12 organisations, conducted 32 activities and events with in depth conversations with 270 local people from 26 ethnicities. Activities ranged from arts and music competitions with children and young people, dance sessions with a multicultural group, a tea and dance session for people using mental health services and community conversations with the Somali community.  

Successful organisations were invited to attend an online training session to support them to collect insight in inclusive and accessible ways. Each group was asked to explore the following topics using prompts to encourage conversation: experiences of NHS services; how people stay healthy; knowing when to seek help and understanding other factors that shape people’s health and wellbeing. In Merton we also asked questions about how people keep their hearts healthy.

Following their event, organisations were asked to submit a summary of what they heard, together with quotes and photos. Where it was identified that more insight could have been shared or additional support was needed Merton Connected followed up with one-to-one conversations with a sample of organisations.

Healthy Communities insight Challenges and barriers

Findings by Neighbourhood

Following our winter engagement work, we began mapping VCSE organisations with emerging neighbourhood areas. We have reviewed the healthy communities’ insights by ward to support the move towards neighbourhood health. Organisations taking part in the spring grants programme have been mapped to their base locations, while recognising that local people may have attended activities from other parts of the borough.

Across Merton, we heard from 270 people, either living in or connected to community networks and organisations in the following areas:

• Cricket Green
• Figges Marsh
• Graveney
• Lavender Fields
• Longthornton
• Merton Park
• Morden
• Pollards Hill
• Ravensbury
• Raynes Park
• St Helier
• Wimbledon

East Merton

We know that East Merton is an area of focus to tackle health inequalities and therefore have cut the insight by this geography covering the borough wards of Cricket Green, Figges Marsh, Graveney, Lavender Fields, Longthornton, Pollards Hill, Ravensbury, St Helier and Wandle.

Key findings from these organisations:

Access to NHS care

Lack of translations and language support can limit access to healthcare. People with limited English, or those who rely on interpreters such as BSL, struggle to navigate services when materials aren’t translated, explained clearly or offered in culturally familiar ways. This leaves many excluded from essential care and advice.

“If I could pick up a flyer in my own language at the community centre, that would help me understand more and not feel embarrassed to ask.”

Reception staff often act as ‘gatekeepers’, with some lacking empathy, training, or discretion. People reported feeling judged, rushed, or having their privacy breached when trying to explain their needs. People also felt they were only given short appointment times which do not meet their needs. Longer appointments were requested for older patients managing multiple health issues.
“I waited a whole month for just a telephone appointment.”

Delays, long waits, and last-minute cancellations discourage people from seeking care, especially when they are already vulnerable. When appointments are cancelled or rearranged repeatedly, people give up – even when they know they need help.
“They cancelled my appointment 5 minutes before. It was for a test I’d been anxious about for days.”

Perceptions of poorer care in East Merton and compared to neighbouring boroughs are widespread. Some people believed that health and care services in Merton, especially East Merton were underfunded or of lower quality compared to nearby areas like Wandsworth and Sutton. There was a sense of being “left behind” or “deprioritised”, with some people frustrated that they could not access services available in neighbouring boroughs, such as a gender clinic in Sutton.
“Worst NHS service [in Merton] compared with Wandsworth or Sutton.”

Mental health

People living with mental health conditions frequently felt dismissed, deprioritised, or not taken seriously. Many described mental health services as overstretched, underfunded, and emotionally disconnected. In East Merton, the loss of local support groups has left many people isolated and unsure of where to get support.
“Where is the information and advice about where to go if I need support?”

Cultural understanding

Cultural disconnection and racial bias create barriers to care. Participants from Global Majority communities described being stereotyped or misunderstood in healthcare settings – for example, being perceived as aggressive due to expressive communication styles, or wrongly assumed to tolerate more pain.
“We’re just talking passionately, but they think we’re being aggressive.”

A lack of ethnic diversity among NHS staff and experiences of dismissal or overdiagnosis, particularly in mental health, reinforced mistrust. People called for more culturally competent care and for the NHS workforce to better reflect the communities it serves.
“There’s a fear of being over-medicalised, like they’re quick to give us pills rather than understand what’s going on.”

Barriers to maintaining a healthy lifestyle

Financial pressure is making it harder to eat healthily, stay active, or get to appointments. People know what they need to do to stay healthy, but a lack of resources, funds and motivation gets in the way.
“I know exercise would help me… but I can’t afford it anymore.” 

West Merton

West Merton covers the borough wards of Wimbledon, Merton Park and Raynes Park and we have cut the insight by this geography.

Key findings from these organisations:

Access to NHS care

Older carers struggle with digital systems – information about care, referrals, appointments and counselling was often only available online. Some carers had limited or no internet access or lacked confidence navigating systems.
“If you’re not computer literate it’s quite difficult”

Accessing a GP felt difficult, frustrating or disheartening – people reported long waits, difficulty getting through on the phone, and having to compete for limited same-day appointments. Some felt their needs weren’t taken seriously unless they were at crisis point.
“Sometimes you just want someone to explain it clearly without rushing or using medical jargon.”

Receptionists were seen as barriers, not facilitators – people felt that some reception staff acted like gatekeepers, deciding who gets to see a GP and often dismissed a patient’s health concerns.

Lack of end-of-life and bereavement support – Carers who had lost loved ones spoke about distressing experiences around death and inadequate follow-up support. Many said counselling was only offered online, which felt impersonal or inaccessible. “I am exhausted from being a carer… it’s too much”

Barriers to maintaining a healthy lifestyle

People know what being healthy means, but social factors sometimes get in the way. Challenges such as financial and food poverty, stress, stigma and mental health made it difficult to adopt healthy behaviours. Practical, inclusive local support was more valued than health  information.
“When I’m feeling anxious or tense, it becomes really hard to eat properly or take care of myself”

Trust

Trust within the LGBTQ+ communities is lacking due to direct discrimination and exclusion within the health service. The trans community shared experiences or being challenged on their identity or feeling forced to share their gender they were born with in clinical settings. Some LGBTQ+ people feel unsafe disclosing anything to their GPs.
“The negative news about trans people affects me — it feels personal.”

Mental Health

Mental health services feel inaccessible. Carers and LGBTQ+ individuals described long waits, a lack of specialist support, and counselling that didn’t meet their needs. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) was described as unhelpful or even “harmful” for those with trauma.

North Merton and Morden

North Merton and Morden cover the borough wards of of Colliers Wood, Abbey and Morden and we have cut the insight by this geography.

Key findings from these organisations:

Access to NHS care

People face ongoing barriers to accessing NHS services, especially GPs and primary care.  Long waits, confusing booking systems, and poor communication left many feeling ignored or dismissed. GP appointments felt were hard to secure, especially for those unable to call first thing in the morning.
“It took all day to get an appointment to see the doctor”

Walk-in clinics and face-to-face options are missed, particularly by older people, people with disabilities, and those with caring responsibilities. Phone systems were described as “impossible” to use, while digital platforms were not trusted.

Awareness and looking after your heart health

People struggle to know when to seek NHS help and often wait too long – particularly those living in temporary accommodation or new to the UK. There was uncertainty about when to ask for help. Symptoms like dizziness, palpitations, pain, swelling, and breathlessness were mentioned – but many people ignored early warning signs.
“I didn’t realise women could have different signs – I thought it was always the same for everyone”

The value of peer and community support

Peer support really motivates people to stay healthy, but the cost of living and daily routines can sometimes get in the way. People appreciate group activities like yoga but feel it’s not always accessible unless it’s free. People feel that gyms are now too expensive and want to see discounted rates.
“I listen to meditation apps sometimes; I find these really relaxing.”

People spoke emotionally about the importance of community, friendship, and having a reason to get out of the house. “Being outside in sunny weather,” “going for tea with friends,” “using my travel pass to explore,” and “helping others” were all seen as powerful for mental wellbeing.

Borough wide themes

This section captures the key themes raised across Merton engagement activities. It reflects shared experiences from multiple organisations and highlights where views and experiences differed for communities.

Several consistent themes emerged across all neighbourhoods, reflecting both systemic issues and the vital role of community support. Our engagement with people living in Merton highlighted that health and wellbeing is shaped by much more than just medical care. Everyday challenges like financial pressures, housing conditions, social isolation, cultural experiences and caring responsibilities all influence how people manage their health. Access to trusted information and accessible, inclusive health services is key but often difficult to find. People also told us that they sometimes delay seeking help as they do not want to overburden the health service, how much they value community and social connections and feelings of low mental health, exacerbated by loneliness and the cost-of-living crisis.

These insights have come together into five key themes that reflect the realities people face in maintaining healthy hearts, minds and lives in Merton.

Pressures on wellbeing and daily life

Most people in Merton said they understood what it means to live healthily, eating well, exercising, and staying connected with friends and family but daily pressures often get in the way. People spoke about how financial stress, poor housing, caring responsibilities, and the constant struggle to make ends meet make it hard to maintain healthy habits. Loneliness was felt most acutely by older adults and those already experiencing mental health challenges, with the rising cost of social activities making this worse.

Access to green spaces was also seen as essential for wellbeing. People described parks, gardening, and walking as bringing calm and connection to nature, but for some, this was limited by transport barriers, mobility issues, and safety concerns within the borough

Access to NHS Services

Accessing a GP was described as frustrating, with people struggling to secure same-day or routine appointments and finding systems inflexible for those balancing work or caring duties. Receptionists were often viewed as “gatekeepers” who blocked access without medical expertise, while short appointment times left patients feeling rushed. Many called for longer appointments, particularly for older adults managing multiple health conditions. Residents in East Merton also felt they had fewer services nearby compared to other parts of the borough, which made getting care even harder.

Dental access was also a concern, with difficulties booking timely appointments and widespread anxiety about treatment costs. Language and communication barriers especially for older people and those not fluent in English left many feeling uncertain or unable to ask questions, which delayed treatment and heightened fear. People living in Merton want walk-in centres and in-person clinics to return to the borough, especially for those who do not have internet, good transport links to neighbouring boroughs or a private space to talk to a health professional online.

Value of community and social support

Community organisations play a vital role in reducing isolation and supporting wellbeing. Across Merton, people praised local groups for providing connection, purpose, and practical support. Lantern Carers Organisation was described as a lifeline for those looking after relatives receiving end-of-life care. Friendships, peer support, and group activities were said to help people “feel seen” and less alone.

Local resources such as libraries, gyms, and community hubs were highly valued, but access was inconsistent. People want more opportunities to join groups and receive simple health advice or checks in familiar settings, which feel less intimidating than clinics or hospitals. For older adults, carers, and global majority communities especially, safe spaces for peer support and social connection were seen as essential for maintaining health and resilience.

Building trust through inclusive care

Discrimination and stigma were described as an additional barrier for LGBTQ+ and Global Majority communities. Some reported feeling excluded even within their own communities. Merton Plus highlighted the damaging effect of anti-trans narratives in the media on mental health, while Somali participants spoke about stigma surrounding single motherhood and mental health.

People called for clear translated information and improved cultural competence to rebuild trust and improve health outcomes. Cultural beliefs, gender, and racism shaped how people experienced and accessed care, with some feeling their symptoms were not taken seriously or investigated appropriately. Women described not being listened to, while others feared over-medicalisation or unequal treatment. Structural and cultural barriers undermined confidence, compounded by language challenges, lack of culturally appropriate information, transport issues, and affordability of healthy living. People want services to better understand and respect differences, supported by training on racism and inclusivity, alongside a more diverse workforce.

Healthy hearts awareness, attitudes and behaviours

This section captures the key findings on healthy hearts raised across Merton engagement activities. It reflects shared experiences and views from multiple organisations.

Looking after your heart can be difficult

Across several organisations, people said that looking after their hearts can be difficult without the right advice or tools. Many people delay seeking help because they don’t recognise early warning signs or lack confidence in accessing GP services. There is a strong interest in community-based heart health awareness, with people interested in learning about early signs and managing risk factors such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes in venues close to them. Trusted local conversations, peer-led activities, and volunteering were seen as helpful ways to maintain healthy behaviours, reduce stress, and learn from others’ experiences. People highlighted differences in support needs for men and women, noting that women are more likely to attend screenings, while men may be less likely to engage with health services. People who experience poor mental health said that there can be confusion between mental health symptoms, such as panic attacks, and heart issues caused additional anxiety.  People expressed concerns about how their prescribed medication might affect their heart health. They wanted clear, detailed conversations with their GP or pharmacist to better understand the risks and feel confident about their treatment.

Avanti Mental Wellbeing CIC felt that sometimes, panic attacks can mimic heart symptoms causing alarm and confusion – they wanted more peer education from individuals with lived experience of heart events and clearer guidance on gender differences in symptoms.

“You can get pains in your chest but also pain in your left shoulder or jaw. But I think in women a heart attack might present differently, but I am not sure ….”

Delaying seeking help until it feels critical

Across several organisations, many people said reported that they would not book a GP appointment specifically for new symptoms relating to heart health, unless the issue became severe or continuous.

People said that they didn’t want to “add strain to the NHS”. Waiting times for GP appointments also discouraged people from seeking help.
“I don’t want to interrupt my GP with questions about other things when I am in seeing them for something unrelated to a sign or symptom which I don’t think is relevant” (Age UK Merton and Fusion Multicultural Group)

There is frustration with the lack of face-to-face appointments and remote diagnoses, discouraging people from seeking help. Some people however did say they would seek help early and others would call 111 for guidance. (Attic Theatre company)

Many participants said that they would consult their family and friends before seeking help from a health professional. If local community groups had blood pressure monitoring or they were aware it was available at their local pharmacy, they would access it there to help awareness of heart issues.  (Citizen’s Advice Merton and Lambeth)

People said they would be relying on online resources like NHS websites or ChatGPT before seeking help.  (Merton Plus and Positive Network)

Sometimes people ignore feeling unwell or worry about taking additional medication, there can also be distrust with health services due to poor experiences in the past.  (Positive Network Community Project)

Awareness of heart health symptoms

Overall people understood heart health and some symptoms such as chest pain, high blood pressure and feeling unwell but many were surprised to hear of lesser-known signs like irregular heartbeats/palpitations or unusual fatigue. However, there are gaps in knowledge with many people wanting more information to understand what to look out for and if there were any differences between men and women.

Suggestions from mainly older people for public awareness campaigns to include posters, easy-to-read leaflets and clear information from healthcare providers at appointments. (Age UK and Positive Network)

Community pharmacists are valued

People feel more comfortable talking to their community pharmacist which feel more accessible than getting a GP appointment. During visits to the pharmacy, some individuals unexpectedly discovered they had high blood pressure, leading them to consult their GP and begin appropriate treatment. Participants also reported that they are more likely to use pharmacy services if supported by their peers. Pharmacies were highly valued by all participants for blood pressure, cholesterol, and other heart health checks.

People appreciated the Pharmacy Campaign and wanted to see more information about what a pharmacist can provide.  (Attic Theatre Company)

“I felt more comfortable talking to the pharmacist… You see them more often than your doctor.”

Group members felt motivated by peer support and encouraged each other to get their blood pressure checked in pharmacies.  (Positive Network Community)

Pharmacies were seen as a convenient first port of call for routine monitoring or minor concerns, especially when GP access is delayed. (Jigsaw4u)

Accessible and practical information in multiple languages is needed

Participants reported difficulty knowing what services and activities were available locally, often relying on word of mouth, NHS websites, peer experience, and community groups. Confusion arose because different people had different knowledge and trusted sources, some preferred clinical advice, others would listen to friends and family. Participants wanted a single, trusted source of credible information, as messages could otherwise feel overwhelming. (Avanti Mental Wellbeing CIC)

Many participants were uncertain about what health concerns were serious enough to seek help and feared additional prescriptions or hospitalisation. (Positive Network Community) Guidance on where to go for support for both heart and mental health was requested. (Somali Community CIC)

Accessible, practical information in multiple languages and formats was highlighted as essential. Language barriers, poor translations, and a lack of culturally relevant resources made it difficult to recognise symptoms, manage risk factors, or know where to seek help. Digital exclusion highlighted these challenges, particularly for older people, carers, and those less comfortable with technology, leaving people reliant on friends, family, or community organisations.

“Older people don’t understand technology today – internet banking, etc. and this causes huge stress when dealing with our day-to-day life.” Age UK.

Participants emphasised that culturally appropriate information is particularly important for Global Majority and trans/non-binary communities, as mainstream resources often did not reflect their needs. (Merton Plus). Digital-only systems, including online booking and information, only increased anxiety and made access harder, people requested offline alternatives for those who couldn’t access the internet.

Women highlighted the need for practical information about how heart symptoms can differ between men and women, noting this is not well understood and should be clearly explained. (Attic Theatre Company)

Cultural beliefs, gender and racism can impact access  

Participants shared concerns that discrimination, racism, gender bias and cultural insensitivity undermine people’s confidence in health services. Some people reported low confidence that their GP understood or recognised symptoms in people from diverse backgrounds, while others expressed worries that women’s health was not taken seriously. People from Global Majority communities described a fear of being over-medicalised because of previous experiences of racism.

Some participants shared feelings of mistrust toward GP services, shaped by past experiences of racism and a sense that their health concerns were not always taken seriously.

People agreed that regular check-ups are recommended but reported a perception that some communities receive more support from the NHS than others.

“We should be checked out every six months, but most of us don’t, or can’t get an appointment. White people seem to get checked more regularly, but in our community, most people just do blood tests and blood pressure as a minimum.” (Positive Network)

Food inequality was also raised, with some relying on food banks and finding it difficult to access heart-healthy options (Merton Plus).

Participants, including trans and non-binary people described low confidence in GP understanding of their bodies and symptoms.  (Merton Plus)

Concerns were raised that women’s symptoms were dismissed or under-investigated.  (Attic Theatre Company)

Community based prevention and peer education

Community-based prevention and peer education were seen as important for improving heart health. People valued learning together in familiar and trusted spaces, where support felt less intimidating than in formal health settings. Heart health awareness sessions, peer-led workshops, and activities such as blood pressure checks during community groups were seen as practical ways to identify early warning signs and reduce stigma around seeking help. Trusted people in the community made it easier to maintain healthy behaviours, manage stress, and reduce isolation. Peer support, informal learning through conversations, volunteering, and shared activities were highlighted as powerful ways to raise awareness and encourage healthier choices. As one person described: “I communicate with my family, so when I’m worried we talk to each other.”

All participants suggested that simple blood pressure checks could be carried out within community spaces to support proactive and preventative health management. People also wanted to understand what could be done to prevent heart issues. There were multiple suggestions for more community-led activities, including awareness sessions on blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes to be delivered in spaces people already attend. (Somali CIC, Fusion Multicultural Group, Avanti, Citizens Advice, Age UK Merton)

Women noted that men in their communities were often harder to reach and less likely to talk about their health. Peer-led support in trusted spaces was seen to involve more men in conversations. (Attic Theatre Company)

Volunteering was widely seen as a positive experience across all organisations, with many participants noting its impact on overall wellbeing. It provided a space where people felt more comfortable discussing health issues and breaking down barriers to open conversation. Peer-led workshops and community activities were especially valued, offering opportunities to share lived experiences and ease concerns around symptoms and treatments. “Coming here [Attic’s Movement Mornings] it gets me out of my house… it’s not just for your physical health but also your mental health.” (Attic Theatre Company)

Next steps

The insight gathered in this report is being shared with the London Borough Merton Public Health Team to support the prevention priority within the Merton Health and Wellbeing Strategy. It is also being provided to the South West London Health Inequalities Team, who are leading the London programme to inform the development of the Merton Healthy Hearts and Minds initiative.

The findings are being reported and discussed further at the Merton and Wandsworth Primary Care and Community Care Place meeting to agree next steps.

Appendices

Appendix A: Cardiovascular disease a summary of existing evidence

Cardiovascular disease in Merton

Limited qualitative insight exists from people and communities about their views and experiences of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and related healthy lifestyles.  However the following reports provide additional evidence and insight.

The Merton Story 2024/25 (Public Health, London Borough Merton) is a high-level assessment of the health and wellbeing needs of Merton’s population which have been identified through the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) process and developed to inform commissioning intentions in the borough. It provides an evidence base drawn on dashboards and community engagement that reflects the needs and priorities of Merton residents.  It includes cardiovascular disease and risk factors like hypertension, obesity and diabetes.  CVD remains a leading cause of early mortality and long-term ill health in Merton with the most common risk factors include hypertension, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes and poor mental health.  There are an estimated 26,700 people who smoke and 102,000 people overweight or obese in Merton, high numbers of people at risk from developing CVD, and the trend is increasing.

Merton’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025 to 2030 (London Borough Merton, 2025) contains an action, during the lifetime of the strategy, to “increase heart health awareness, enhance prevention, and reduce the inequalities in the rates of cardiovascular illness and its consequences”. Other actions set out in the strategy, will support the ambitions to prevent CVD and are contained within the five priority areas for action; start strong, focus on prevention, strong communities, healthy places, and joined up services.

Merton Council’s recent paper to Healthier Communities and Older People Overview and Scrutiny Panel on CVD highlights the London Million Hearts and Minds Programme as a core initiative within broader cardiovascular strategies and promoting heart equity.  The ambition is to integrate blood pressure, cholesterol and mental wellbeing checks via community hubs, clinics, and run public events aligned with “Health on the High Street” and healthy lifestyles promotion.  

Heart disease is one of the conditions most strongly associated with health inequalities.  The Health Matters: Ambitions to tackle persisting inequalities in cardiovascular disease (UKHSA, 2019) supports this in that people living in the most deprived areas are almost four times more likely to die prematurely, before the age of 75 years, than those living in the least deprived areas.  The prevalence of heart disease is higher in areas with higher deprivation and so a clear gap for further community engagement in our most deprived areas in Merton. 

Appendix B: Mapping VCSE organisation locations and approximate reach of communities