The Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission was scheduled to discuss how the health and care system is preparing for significant population growth and changing demographics, as well as how the council and its partners are addressing low levels of physical activity in Newham. The commission was also set to review its work plan for the upcoming year.

Meeting Newham's Future Needs

A key item on the agenda was to consider how the health and care system is preparing for significant population growth and changing demographics over the next 15 years. This discussion was informed by a report detailing the projected population growth in Newham, which is one of the fastest-growing boroughs in London. The report highlighted that Newham's population is expected to increase significantly, with a notable rise in the proportion of older adults. This demographic shift is anticipated to drive increased demand for health and social care services.

The report outlined the Case for Change, which uses a one version of the truth model to evidence the scale of population growth and its impact on demand for health and local government services. This model incorporates population forecasts, historic activity data from the North-East London linked dataset, unit costs for key activities, and current capacity data. The analysis suggests that without changes to the current service model, projected growth in demand will lead to significant capacity requirements across acute settings, mental health services, and general practice.

The discussion was also set to cover the development of integrated neighbourhood teams, which are envisioned to widen access, augment current services, and link fragmented pathways. The report detailed a range of interventions enabled through these teams, focusing on specific cohorts such as those with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory conditions, and mental health needs. The plan for delivery includes establishing shared priorities, developing partnership frameworks, and piloting integrated neighbourhood working in two Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in Stratford and West Ham.

Leisure in Newham

The commission was scheduled to consider how the council and its partners are addressing low levels of physical activity in Newham. A report on this topic was to be presented, focusing on the strategic role the council plays in supporting a physically active community through leisure and sports activities and facilities. The Leisure and Sport service is positioned within Public Health, ensuring a whole life-course approach to physical activity and sport. This portfolio is embedded within the 50 Steps to Healthier Newham Strategy 2024-2027, with specific steps dedicated to increasing access to leisure and sport through community-based programmes, delivering high-quality and accessible sports and physical activity offers, and providing high-quality leisure facilities and infrastructure.

The report was expected to detail the council's approach, which involves a combination of activity from their leisure operator, GLL, commissioned activity, and work with various internal and external partners. The aim is to improve data collection and interrogation to identify specific demographics not accessing services, allowing for a more responsive and adaptive service.

Standing Item - Update on Emerging Matters

An update was scheduled on ongoing and emerging issues within Newham's health and care system, specifically focusing on the Newham Place Partnership. This update was to provide an overview of emerging priorities for the partnership, a summary of areas of disinvestment, and examples of where Newham has secured significant new investment since the creation of the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Integrated Care System (ICS).

The emerging priorities for the Newham Place-Based Partnership for 2024/25 include a population growth programme, developing an integrated neighbourhood programme, and maintaining a focus on resident feedback and a health equity lens. The update was also to highlight investment in Newham, with examples such as Health Inequalities funding and the Hospital Discharge Fund (HDF), where Newham received the largest overall allocation of funding for 2024/25. Areas of disinvestment were also to be discussed, including potential savings targets for the ICB and wider ICS, and a review of services such as the pulmonary rehabilitation service and the adult Autism diagnostic service.

Scrutiny Commission Work Plan

The commission was scheduled to consider its work plan for the upcoming year. This plan outlines the key topics for consideration throughout the year, the purpose and scope of each topic, the timeline for discussion, and the departments, external agencies, and expert witnesses to be involved. The work planning session for the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission was held on 16 July 2024, and the resulting work plan for 2024-2025 was presented for agreement.