The Health Scrutiny Committee of Bury Council met on Thursday 24 September 2026 to discuss updates on Greater Manchester (GM) health scrutiny meetings, the achievements of the Carers Strategy, and the Bury Care Academy. The meeting also included time for public and member questions, and a review of the minutes from the previous meeting.

Chair's Update on GM Meetings

Councillor E FitzGerald, Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee, provided an update on recent Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Joint Health Scrutiny meetings. Discussions at the August meeting included a deep dive into maternity and early years services, with concerning data presented on medical support needs during birth, early childhood disadvantage, maternal mortality rates, and school readiness. The committee also reviewed the Greater Manchester Care Record, an initiative aiming to improve patient care by ensuring clinicians have access to the right information. A case study on the Electronic Palliative Care Coordination System (EPaCCs) was also presented, highlighting its success in enabling more people to die in their preferred place. The scale and challenges of the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector in addressing health inequalities were also discussed, with concerns raised about funding and sustainability. A report on monthly service reconfiguration included an update on the consultation for specialised commissioning of cardiac and arterial vascular surgery, and a review of 'Ambulance Handover and Corridor Care' at Tameside Hospital.

At the September GMCA Joint Health Scrutiny meeting, the committee received the final Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment data for Greater Manchester boroughs, with Wigan achieving an 'Outstanding' rating and Bury, along with several other boroughs, rated as 'Good'. Discussions also covered the NHS Greater Manchester reform and workforce update, detailing a significant reduction in running costs and a shift towards a more proportionate service. An update on Greater Manchester Paediatric Audiology Services was presented, noting progress in reopening services and family involvement in the process. The committee also received a monthly service reconfiguration progress report, focusing on the interim update for the cardiac surgery consultation, with concerns raised about travel and capacity. The committee's work programme was also discussed, with a commitment to receive monthly updates on Northern Care Alliance (NCA) issues.

Update on Achievements of Carers Strategy

The committee was scheduled to receive a presentation on the achievements of the Carers Strategy. The Adult Bury Carers Strategy 2025-2029 aims to ensure that individuals providing unpaid care are recognised, valued, and supported. The strategy's vision is for Bury to be a place where carers can access the support they need, when they need it, and in a way that works best for them. Key commitments include identifying and supporting carers as soon as possible, ensuring access to the right support and information, raising the profile of carers, and reducing inequalities by improving identification and support for under-represented groups. The Bury Carers' Hub provides information, advice, one-to-one support, groups, training, wellbeing services, emergency planning, and referrals for adult carers in Bury. The report highlighted significant activity, including 433 referrals for support and 343 newly identified carers between March 2025 and February 2026. The strategy also focuses on co-production, involving carers in service design and system development.

Achievements of Care Market Workforce Support (Bury Care Academy)

The meeting was also scheduled to review the achievements of the Care Market Workforce Support, specifically the Bury Care Academy (BCA). The BCA aims to support workforce development within the care sector. The report indicated engagement with social care providers, with a steady increase in the number of engaged providers throughout the year. The recruitment pipeline showed a growing number of providers engaging to fill vacancies and an increase in roles offered. The Bury Care Academy has also been actively engaging with external stakeholders and has developed a website as a central resource for information on care pathways, roles, and upcoming events. Website engagement figures showed a significant number of visits and users since its launch. Social media presence was also detailed, with LinkedIn showing the strongest growth. The BCA has conducted various events, including myth-busting sessions, careers events, digital skills events, and programmes for young people and aspiring leaders, all aimed at supporting workforce development and addressing recruitment challenges within the care sector.

Minutes of the Last Meeting

The committee was scheduled to review and approve the minutes from the Health Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 14 July 2026. The previous meeting's minutes noted discussions on the Healthwatch Bury Annual Report, Bury's Local Area SEND Monitoring Inspection, and the outcome of the CQC Local Authority Assessment of Adult Social Care. The minutes also covered the Adult Social Care Performance Report for Quarter Four 2025/26 and the Chair's Standing Item, which included updates on GM meetings and the Northern Care Alliance (NCA).