The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Harrow Council met on Tuesday 5 November 2024 to discuss the proposed changes to services at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre and to review the Harrow Safeguarding Adult Board's Annual Report and Strategic Plan. The committee resolved to recommend that Harrow Council participate in the new Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre and noted the Harrow Safeguarding Adult Board's report.

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Membership

The committee received a report detailing proposals for changes to services at the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC) and the establishment of a new Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) to scrutinise these proposals. NHS England has been reviewing the MVCC services due to concerns about the condition of the buildings and the centre's ability to deliver complex procedures. A 2019 report by an Independent Clinical Advisory Group highlighted that patient safety could not be guaranteed in the near future and that comprehensive medical and surgical support services, including intensive care, were needed but not available at the current site.

The proposed solution involves relocating the MVCC to an acute hospital site, with Watford General Hospital identified as the preferred location. This move is expected to have minimal impact on travel times for Harrow patients. As Harrow has over 1,000 patients attending the MVCC annually, the council has been invited to participate in the JHOSC.

The committee resolved to recommend to the Council that Harrow participate fully in the MVCC JHOSC, chaired by Hertfordshire County Council. It was also recommended that the Chair of Harrow's Health and Social Care Scrutiny Sub-Committee be appointed as Harrow's representative on the JHOSC, with any additional representatives to be delegated to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Harrow Council officers will work with other local authorities on the JHOSC's terms of reference and work programme.

Harrow Safeguarding Adult Board Annual Report 2023/24 and Strategic Plan 2024/27

The committee received and noted the Harrow Safeguarding Adult Board (HSAB) Annual Report 2023/24 and Strategic Plan 2024/27. This report outlines the safeguarding issues and activities undertaken for Harrow residents. The Care Act 2014 mandates local authorities to establish multi-agency arrangements for safeguarding adults at risk of abuse and neglect, overseen by the HSAB in Harrow.

During the discussion, concerns were raised about past safeguarding challenges for under-represented groups and the promotion of awareness among them. The committee was informed that work is ongoing to engage with these groups, although it has been hampered by inadequate staffing levels. New staff are being recruited to address these concerns.

Questions were also raised regarding budgetary constraints and the apparent separation of previously merged children's and adult services boards, with the committee being informed that the two boards currently operate independently. The committee inquired about the implementation of quality assurance procedures, and it was explained that the former Quality Assurance and Performance Subgroup had been reformed as a Multi-Agency Auditing Subgroup. While an audit of child safeguarding practice regarding Child Sexual Abuse had been completed, audits for adults were yet to be undertaken. A Quality Assurance Framework for HSAB is being developed.

The committee also asked about the impact of the Metropolitan Police's Right Care, Right Person policy on mental health crises, with no reported impact in Harrow. Finally, concerns were expressed about performance indicators, and the committee was informed that defining success is challenging but can be inferred from identified risks, achieved outcomes, and timeliness of responses.