The Adult Social Care & Health Select Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 17 June 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the draft Quality Accounts for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the development of the committee's work programme for the upcoming municipal year.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Quality Accounts

The committee is scheduled to review the draft Quality Accounts for the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. These accounts are a statutory requirement for NHS Foundation Trusts, published annually to assess the quality and safety of healthcare services. The reports detail performance information, identify areas for improvement, and outline plans for achieving these improvements in the coming year. The Health Act 2009 mandates that these accounts are made available to the public, serving as a demonstration of how local NHS services are working to improve patient care. The Department of Health and Social Care requires providers to submit their final Quality Accounts to the Secretary of State.

The report outlines that the Quality Accounts should detail:

• What the organisation is doing well.
• Areas where improvements in service quality are needed.
• Priorities for improvement in the coming year.
• Actions intended to secure these improvements.
• How individuals who use their services, staff, and other stakeholders have been involved in determining these priorities.

Local overview and scrutiny committees, such as this one, have the option to provide comments on the Quality Accounts, which can be submitted as a letter to the Trust and potentially included in the final document. Statutory guidance issued in 2024 highlights the vital role of health scrutiny committees in reviewing and examining the planning, provision, and operation of NHS and health services within their local areas.¹

Select Committee Work Programme 2026/2027

The committee is also scheduled to discuss the development of its work programme for the municipal year 2026/2027. This involves identifying priorities for the committee's focus and its overall objectives for the year. The work programme is developed to help members maximise their effectiveness and influence, aiming to make a tangible difference to the council's services. While each select committee has its own programme, it forms part of a larger scrutiny work programme coordinated by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The development of the work programme is informed by the role of scrutiny, aiming to concentrate on delivering work that is valuable and relevant to the council and its residents. This input comes from members of the public, ward councillors, officers, and Lead Members. The statutory guidance acknowledges that prioritisation is a key, yet challenging, aspect for scrutiny committee members.² A guide for members is available to assist with prioritisation and work programming.

Priorities identified by the Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee will be discussed at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 8 July 2026 to ensure coordination, identify cross-cutting issues, and avoid duplication. Members will also have the opportunity to attend a workshop with the Adult Social Care and Public Health department.

The committee will also consider scheduling a report on the substantive response to the recommendations of the working group on the Suicide Prevention Strategy for Adult Males, which concluded its work in the previous municipal year. In partnership with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee will scrutinise the department's budget in December 2026, aligning with the council's budget-setting process. Additionally, members are expected to review the Annual Report of the Safeguarding Adults Executive Board in November 2026.

The report also notes that the North West London Integrated Care Board (ICB) merged with North London ICB on 1 April 2026 to form a new organisation covering 13 London boroughs. Concerns have been raised regarding the practical implications of this merger for patients, residents, and the local authority, including potential increased pressure on the local authority due to reduced information coordination, increased funding burdens, and uncertainty over the ICB's future responsibilities for statutory functions such as safeguarding, Continuing Healthcare (CHC), and SEND. The committee is recommended to refer its initial findings on the ICB re-organisation to Full Council for discussion on 24 June 2026.

The committee's work programme is iterative, with ongoing review and adjustments made as priority issues emerge. The programme aims to balance pre-decision scrutiny and post-decision review of outcomes with the development of new policy and the emergence of Key Decisions. The development of a schedule of visits is also planned to support the work programme and enhance members' understanding of departmental service delivery.