The Health Select Committee of Wiltshire Council met on Tuesday 2 June 2026 to discuss several key health-related issues. Scheduled topics included the implementation of a joint temporary staffing service by the BSW Hospitals Group, an update on the Integrated Community Based Care contract, and an overview of NHS dentistry in Wiltshire. The committee also planned to receive an update on General Practitioner (GP) registration processes.

BSW Hospitals Group - Joint Temporary Staffing Service Implementation

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to address concerns regarding the BSW Hospitals Group's decision to outsource its NHS bank staffing function to a private provider, Pulse (Bank Partners), part of the Acacium Group. This change, due to go live on 1 August 2026, involves transferring the management of bank staff from direct NHS engagement to a private entity.

A written submission from Mark Wareham, Branch Secretary of UNISON Salisbury Health, outlined the union's opposition to this decision. Key concerns raised included:

• The removal of a significant workforce group from direct NHS engagement.
• The transfer of a core NHS staffing function to a private, profit-driven provider, with no indication of increased expertise.
• Potential reductions in terms of engagement and pension provision for NHS bank workers, described as a privatisation by stealth.
• The disproportionate detrimental impact identified for employees from ethnic minorities and women.
• Concerns about the adequacy of the consultation process, which UNISON argued excluded affected workers on an unequal basis.

The BSW Hospitals Group provided a response, prepared by Jude Gray, Group Chief People Officer, which acknowledged the concerns but stated that the change relates specifically to the administration and management of temporary staffing services, not the privatisation of clinical services. The Trusts maintained they remain responsible for patient care, clinical governance, and workforce standards. The response also detailed workforce implications, stating that existing bank workers would be supported through a transition process and have the opportunity to register with the new provider. It was noted that TUPE protections do not apply to bank worker arrangements. Regarding pensions, the response highlighted that eligibility for the NHS Pension Scheme is subject to its rules and that bank-only workers who do not hold substantive NHS contracts would be most impacted by the differing pension arrangements with the new provider. The Equality Impact Assessment was updated to reflect this, and the Trusts committed to supporting bank-only workers in finding substantive employment.

Update on the Integrated Community Based Care Contract

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Integrated Community Based Care (ICBC) contract with HCRG Care Group Ltd, which commenced on 1 April 2025. The report detailed progress on the transformation of services, the launch of a Single Point of Access (SPA), an update on the Quality Dashboard, and plans for the second year of the contract.

Key aspects of the update included:

• Transformation of Services: Year 1 focused on mobilisation, service stabilisation, and establishing foundations for longer-term change, with a person-centred approach involving service users, carers, staff, and partners. This included the establishment of Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs) and redesign of clinical pathways such as frailty, falls, Hospital at Home, and all-age neurodiversity services.
• Single Point of Access (SPA): Launched on 1 April 2026, the SPA aims to be a single front door to community services, integrating referral management, clinical triage, and care navigation. The report noted challenges with timely access to the SPA since its launch, with charts illustrating call handling and abandoned rates. Targeted plans were being developed to address these issues. The report also detailed measures to support digitally excluded residents, including flexible access to assessments and multiple communication channels.
• Quality Monitoring: HCRG presents a quality dashboard to the Joint Contract Oversight Group (JCOG). Key issues at Quarter 4 included monitoring of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs), a continued upward trend in reported pressure injuries within the community setting, and the need to enhance quality and safety assurance reporting for the Hospital@Home Service. The CQC inspection of Paulton Hospital resulted in an overall rating of Good.
• Year 2 of the Contract: This phase will focus on consolidating delivery, scaling successful models, and demonstrating measurable improvements in outcomes, experience, and system flow. Priorities include maturing the SPA and Digital Front Door, embedding INTs, and strengthening integration with primary care, social care, and VCSE partners.

Overview of NHS Dentistry in Wiltshire

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of NHS dentistry in Wiltshire, presented by Victoria Stanley, Head of Primary Care (POD). The report included performance data for 2025/26, highlighting trends in emergency department attendances for tooth extractions, hospital admissions for tooth extractions, and the percentage of adults and children seen within recommended timeframes. It also outlined changes to the dental contract for 2026, including mandatory unscheduled and urgent care, complex care pathways, and preventative changes. The report suggested that these changes aimed to improve oral health inequalities, ensure more consistent delivery of evidence-based care, increase unscheduled care provision, and enhance proactive preventative actions for children's oral health.

General Practitioner (GP) Registration

A brief was prepared to inform the committee about the process of registering with a GP practice. It confirmed that all GP Practices in Wiltshire have open lists and will register patients living within their boundary areas. The brief also outlined the ICB's statutory duty to commission and maintain sufficient primary medical services, detailing methods used to assess GP sufficiency, including the General Practice Dashboard, national profiles, workforce reporting, and patient demand analytics. A case study on Lyneham was included, showing that residents are covered by local GP practices with open lists, and the ICB's position was to support existing practices rather than fragment services.

Forward Work Programme

The committee was asked to review and approve its forward work programme. This included scheduled items for future meetings such as updates on Wiltshire's Whole System Approach to Healthy Weight, Oral Health Initiatives, preventative health strategies, hospital discharge processes, the Smoke Free Generation initiative, the NHS 10 Year Plan, and a thematic review into self-neglect.

Public Participation

The agenda indicated that there would be an opportunity for public participation. A specific question was submitted by Mr Benjamin Hobson regarding the BSW Hospitals Group's decision to transfer the management of NHS bank staff to Pulse. The committee confirmed it was aware of this issue and had invited representatives from the BSW Hospitals Group to attend and discuss the matter.