NHS England leaders visit Orpington Wellbeing Café
On 6 November, two senior NHS England leaders, alongside two clinical fellows, visited the Orpington Wellbeing Café in Bromley.
Dr Kiren Collison, Deputy Medical Director for Primary Care, and Dr Agatha Nortley-Meshe, London Regional Medical Director for Primary Care, saw first-hand how the café supports older people in the community.
They were joined by the care coordinators who run the cafe on a fortnightly basis and colleagues from NHS South East London, including:
- Dr Claire Riley – GP, Orpington Primary Care Network (PCN), Clinical Director and One Bromley PCN Clinical Lead for Strategy, Interface and Neighbourhoods
- Dr Prema Ravi – GP and Bromley Clinical Lead for Older People and Frailty and the original Clinical Director who helped set up the café
The café helps older people stay connected and healthy. It offers:
- Health checks and medicine reviews – pharmacists, podiatrists and cancer care coordinators give advice and help people manage their health without needing to visit their GP.
- Social activities – people join in with bingo, art classes and meditation, helping them stay active and make new friends.
- Digital support – care coordinators help café users with using the NHS App and other online services.
- Outreach to care homes – the team visits care homes to include people who can’t come to the café.
- Informal talks from NHS teams – each session includes a short talk from local services like the Bladder and Bowel team, Rapid Response and the Respiratory team.
Dr Agatha Nortley-Meshe, London Regional Medical Director for Primary Care, NHS England, said: “This is a brilliant example of neighbourhood and community working. It shows how local teams can bring care closer to people and reduce health inequalities.”
Dr Kiren Collison, Deputy Medical Director for Primary Care, NHS England, added:
“It’s inspiring to see how the café brings together health and social support in such a warm and welcoming way.”
The café was set up after the Covid pandemic by the Orpington Primary Care Network, with support from Bromley Healthcare. It runs every other Thursday and is open to anyone aged 80 and over, including younger retired people.
Dr Claire Riley, Orpington PCN Clinical Director and One Bromley PCN Clinical Lead, said: “All of the practices within the Orpington PCN support the café, as we see it as a vital way of providing healthcare to patients in a unique setting and reducing loneliness.
“The experience we have obtained from delivering healthcare in this way has led to further projects co-designed with patients and other organisations, including an anticipatory care team and digital café. We have also further developed the cafe model with a carers cafe and care home cafe.”
Joanne Twiner, Lead Care Coordinator at the café, said: “We work with local people to design the café around what they need. It’s a lifeline for many who feel lonely or cut off from services. It’s about listening, connecting and making sure everyone feels part of something.”
The café was a finalist at the 2024 HSJ Patient Safety Awards and won a One Bromley Recognition Award for its work tackling isolation and health inequalities.
Why this matters in Bromley
Bromley has the second oldest population in London, with over 50 nursing and care homes and extra-care housing. The population is expected to rise to 345,350 by 2027.
People in Bromley live on average 17.7 years in poor health. The borough includes some of the most and least deprived wards in England, meaning health needs vary widely.
The Orpington Wellbeing Café is one way local teams are working together to meet these needs — bringing care into the community, reducing pressure on GPs, and helping people live healthier, more connected lives.