The Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 9 January 2024 to discuss a range of health updates, the Joint Forward Plan for 2024-25, the London Ambulance Service, and collaboration efforts between local NHS trusts. Key discussions included improvements in urgent and emergency care, the strategic direction for health services in North East London, and the ongoing work of the London Ambulance Service.

Health Updates

The committee received comprehensive health updates from various NHS bodies, including NHS North East London, Barts Health NHS Trust, North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT), and Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT). A significant point of discussion was the ongoing conversion of patients' paper records to electronic systems at Queen's and King George's hospitals. This initiative aims to improve accessibility of patient records across different hospital sites and enhance data security.

Updates on seasonal COVID-19 and flu vaccination uptake indicated that rates were in line with the London average. BHRUT reported improvements in their Type 1 performance for urgent and emergency care, with Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) departments playing a crucial role in reducing hospital admissions, seeing an average of 128 patients daily across both their hospitals. Positive news was shared regarding the radiotherapy unit at Queen's Hospital, which has received the UK's first machine upgrade, significantly reducing image capture times.

NELFT provided an update on the Right Care Right Person collaboration with the Metropolitan Police, which aims to create a unified response to mental health calls across London. It was noted that police deployments had decreased by 14% in the first month of this initiative, although calls to NHS 111 for mental health support had increased.

Joint Forward Plan 2024-25

The committee was presented with the draft Joint Forward Plan (JFP) for 2024-25. This document outlines how the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and its partner trusts intend to provide NHS services to meet the health needs of residents. Members were informed that the JFP for 2024-25 includes expanded information on strategic system improvements, Place plans, cross-cutting themes, and enablers, as well as details on resident priorities and successes to date.

A question was raised regarding community waiting lists, with officers explaining that workforce availability remains a challenge. They also clarified that the Community Health team manages children's and adult waiting lists separately.

London Ambulance Service (LAS)

An update was provided on the performance and strategy of the London Ambulance Service (LAS). Representatives highlighted that the service handles approximately 5,700 999 calls and 6,000 111 calls daily, with significant improvements in response times. The LAS has recruited more paramedics and ordered 232 new ambulances, including two fully electric vehicles, to replace older models with more environmentally friendly options.

Improvements were noted in 'Category 2' responses, with response times reducing from 1 hour 40 minutes to 39 minutes, exceeding the London average, although the target remains 30 minutes. A challenge identified is patients arriving at A&E assuming they have pre-booked appointments, and work is underway to expedite the sharing of patient details.

The LAS's five-year strategy aims to achieve the best heart attack survival rate globally, with a target of 40% survival, currently standing at 31%. To achieve this, the service is training the public and schoolchildren in CPR. The committee was informed about the use of AI technology in call handling, which helps dispatch ambulances within 45 seconds by identifying keywords.

Collaboration Update

The committee received an update on the collaboration between Barts Health NHS Trust, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT), and Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, operating as the North East London Acute Provider Collaborative (APC) since July 2022. The APC's aim is to improve healthcare for residents, with a focus on digital programmes for patient records. Discussions are ongoing regarding scaling up the APC across North East London to enhance its attractiveness and create better opportunities. Concerns were raised about potential resource diversion from North East London to Central London, but Barts Health has committed expertise to support BHRUT.