The Greater Manchester Joint Health Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 14 July 2026 to discuss a range of health-related programmes and updates. Key topics included the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership's Anti-Racism Programme, the funding model for Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) engagement, and an update on the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) assessment of adult social care provision across Greater Manchester.

Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) Anti-Racism Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of the Greater Manchester ICP Anti-Racism Programme. This programme is designed to tackle racism experienced by staff, patients, and communities within the health and care system. It aligns with both the Greater Manchester Race Equity Framework and the North West BAME Anti-Racist Framework, which aims for Gold Level accreditation for NHS organisations. The programme includes a public-facing communications campaign, No Space for Racism, and practical actions such as strengthening reporting mechanisms for racist behaviour and embedding anti-racism expectations into commissioning processes. The report highlighted a significant increase in calls regarding racism and a concerning percentage of migrant care staff reporting such experiences.

NHS Greater Manchester Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Engagement Grant Funding Model

A report was presented on the NHS Greater Manchester VCSE Engagement Grant Funding Model. This initiative aims to develop a sustainable VCSE participation framework, with 10GM acting as an intermediary partner. The model focuses on building capacity within Local Infrastructure Organisations (LIOs) to fund trusted community groups and grassroots organisations. The objective is to ensure that those experiencing the greatest health inequalities have a stronger voice in shaping health services. The funding is for a 24-month period, commencing in August 2025, and aims to foster transformational partnerships rather than transactional relationships. The report detailed the design principles, delivery mechanisms, and reporting structures for this programme, noting that the funding is distributed equally across the ten localities of Greater Manchester.

Update on Care Quality Commission (CQC) Assessment of Greater Manchester Local Authority (LA) Adult Social Care (ASC) Provision

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the CQC's assessment of adult social care provision across Greater Manchester. The CQC's assessment framework includes nine quality statements across four themes, with updated guidance and rating characteristics. The report outlined the CQC's assurance activities, including self-assessments, assurance meetings, information returns, site visits, and case file tracking. It noted that site visits had taken place in 2025, but reports for Manchester and Trafford had not yet been published. The update also highlighted significant variance in assessment scores across Greater Manchester Local Authorities, with Wigan receiving the highest national ratings and Salford the lowest. Areas consistently scoring less well included assessing need, supporting people to live healthier lives, and safe pathways, systems, and transitions.

NHS Greater Manchester Monthly Service Reconfiguration Progress Report and Forward Look

A report was scheduled to provide an overview of Greater Manchester-wide service redesign projects currently undergoing engagement and/or consultation. The report detailed various projects, including the Specialised Commissioning: Cardiac and Arterial Vascular Surgery, which proposed a single-centre model for both adult cardiac and specialised arterial vascular surgery. The public consultation for this was planned to commence on 1 July 2026 and was later extended to 12 weeks. Other projects included the Safe and Sustainable Specialised Services for Babies and Children, focusing on Neonatal Critical Care, and an update on Plastic Surgery services previously delivered at Wigan. The report also covered the review of Swanbourne Gardens, a respite centre for children with complex health needs, and ongoing work on A&E experience and ambulance handover.

Draft Work Programme for the 2026/27 Municipal Year

The committee was to consider the draft Work Programme for the upcoming municipal year. This programme is a live document, subject to monthly review and updates. The draft had been revised following a planning session and included items such as the VCSE Engagement Model and the No Space for Racism initiative for the next meeting. Future planned items included updates on Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections, maternity and early years services, effective use of resources, adult social care, cardiovascular disease prevention, and paediatric audiology reviews. The programme also aimed to address topics such as mental health, women's health, palliative care, and health inequalities.

Other Scheduled Discussions

The meeting was also scheduled to include:

• Approval of the Minutes of the last meeting dated 20 June 2026: Members were asked to approve the minutes from the previous meeting.
• Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) Anti-Racism Programme: Presented by Claire Connor, Director of People, Communications and Engagement, and Majid Hussain, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, NHS Greater Manchester.
• NHS Greater Manchester Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Engagement Grant Funding Model: Presented by Claire Connor, Director of People, Engagement and Communications, NHS Greater Manchester.
• Update on Care Quality Commission (CQC) Assessment of Greater Manchester Local Authority (LA) Adult Social Care (ASC) Provision: Presented by the Chair, Councillor Liz FitzGerald.
• NHS Greater Manchester Monthly Service Reconfiguration Progress Report and Forward Look: Presented by Claire Connor, Director of People, Communications and Engagement, NHS Greater Manchester.
• Work Programme for the 2026/27 Municipal Year: Presented by the Chair, Councillor Liz FitzGerald.