The Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss an overview of adult services, the Healthwatch Northumberland annual report, and the committee's work programme. They were also scheduled to review the minutes of the Health & Wellbeing Board meetings from February and April 2025, and to confirm the membership of the Primary Care Applications Working Group.

Healthwatch Northumberland Annual Report

The committee was scheduled to receive the annual report from Healthwatch Northumberland, the local health and social care champion. According to the report, Healthwatch Northumberland supported over 2,150 people in the last year to share their experiences and get information about their care. They employ six staff and are supported by 12 volunteers.

The report highlights a number of areas where Healthwatch Northumberland has worked to make a difference, including:

• Dental Care Challenges: Healthwatch Northumberland worked with other local Healthwatch groups to understand the difficulties people face when accessing dental care. Over 3,800 people shared their views, and the Integrated Care Board's new action plan includes stabilising services and additional investment.
• Access to Healthcare Services: Healthwatch Northumberland provided insight to Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW) on barriers to people accessing its services, highlighting a lack of awareness about services as a key issue.
• Women's Health: Healthwatch Northumberland gathered feedback from women across Northumberland to help shape the women's health strategy.
• Ambulance Services: Healthwatch Northumberland worked with North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) and Local Healthwatch to understand people's experiences and expectations of its services.
• Adult Social Care People's Panel: Healthwatch Northumberland worked with service providers and service users to make a difference to adult social care, including advising about improvements needed to public information about adult social care on the council's website.
• Health Visiting Services: Healthwatch Northumberland gave valuable insight to the Growing Healthy 0-19 Service Northumberland, which formed an action plan based on Healthwatch's recommendations.
• Local Communities: Healthwatch Northumberland took its annual event to Berwick-upon-Tweed, bringing together health, social care and voluntary sector organisations.
• Care Homes: Healthwatch Northumberland visited care homes in Northumberland owned and run by HC-One, publishing a report after each visit with recommendations to the homes.
• Audiology Services: Healthwatch Northumberland worked with Newcastle Hospitals, ensuring they were aware of patient feedback on audiology services.

The report also details a number of case studies where Healthwatch Northumberland has helped people to access the services they need.

In the coming year, Healthwatch Northumberland has said that they will focus on:

1. GP access, with a focus on the impact of digital services
2. Dentistry
3. Adult social care, with a focus on hospital discharge and respite care

Adults' Services Overview

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of adult services in Northumberland. Adult social care in Northumberland has been rated as 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Health and Wellbeing OSC Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to consider its work programme for 2025/26. Items that were scheduled to be considered include:

• Updates on the implications of legislation
• Minutes of the Health and Wellbeing Board
• Notes of the Primary Care Applications Working Party
• Care Quality Accounts
• Ambulance response times
• GP Access
• Patient Transport
• Mental Health Support
• Dentistry
• Northumbria Primary Care Governance and Strategy
• Berwick Hospital Update

The committee's terms of reference include promoting well-being and reducing health inequality, reviewing matters relating to health services in Northumberland, and monitoring adult care and social services.

Primary Care Applications Working Group

The Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee was also asked to confirm the membership and terms of reference of the Primary Care Applications Working Group. The purpose of the working group is to scrutinise and comment upon applications for variations to primary care services. The working group will consist of four members of the Health & Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, including the Chair and Vice-Chair. A standing invite will be offered to Healthwatch Northumberland.

The committee was also scheduled to note the monitoring report of the Primary Care Applications Working Group. The monitoring report included a report on the Humshaugh & Wark Medical GP Practice, where the working group agreed to support engagement work in relation to a potential change in provision by the practice.