The North West London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) convened to discuss several key healthcare issues affecting the region. The agenda included updates on maternity provisions, adult mental health services, and the reconfiguration of the Integrated Care Board (ICB), as well as a review of the committee's recommendations tracker and work programme. The meeting was scheduled to take place in person at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge.

Here's a breakdown of the topics that were scheduled to be discussed:

Maternity Provisions in North West London

The JHOSC was scheduled to receive a comprehensive overview of maternity service provision across North West London. According to the report pack, in 2024/25, the six maternity sites in North West London oversaw 26,486 births, a 1% increase from 2022/23, bucking the national trend of declining birth rates. The report pack states that these services are delivered by four NHS Trusts operating within a collaborative Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS), supported by Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships (MNVPs) and Cultural Safety Lead Midwives.

The report pack highlights disparities in maternity outcomes, with Black and Asian women experiencing significantly higher term stillbirth rates compared to White women.

White women experience a term stillbirth rate of 0.7 per 1,000 births, whereas Asian women face a rate of 2.1 per 1,000 and Black women 2.8 per 1,000 — representing threefold and fourfold increases in risk compared to White women, respectively.

-- Public Reports Pack

The report pack states that the LMNS has developed a five-priority Equity and Equality Action Plan to address these challenges through inclusive service restoration, digital access, data quality, targeted prevention, and strengthened leadership.

The report pack also recognises collaborative initiatives, such as Hillingdon Hospital's domestic abuse pathway, support for families experiencing trauma and loss, and integration with family hubs.

To further improve maternity services, the report pack recommends:

• Developing a five-year maternity strategy with birth rate forecasting and workforce planning.
• Aligning local actions with national priorities, including the Maternity Taskforce and Ten-Year Maternity Plan.
• Embedding the MOSS toolkit for real-time performance monitoring.
• Implementing the regional Maternity Reducing Inequalities Care Bundle.
• Strengthening co-production with service users and community partners.
• Publishing disaggregated outcomes data to drive transparency and accountability.

Adult Mental Health

The JHOSC was scheduled to receive an update on adult mental health provision in North West London. According to the report pack, a mental health strategy was presented to the JHOSC in October 2024, and this update would cover progress against key milestones. The report pack states that the strategy aims to improve awareness, equity, and access to mental health services, integrate care between primary care and mental health teams, and develop solutions to housing and employment challenges.

Reconfiguration of the ICB and Implications on Services

The committee was scheduled to discuss the reconfiguration of the ICB and its potential implications on services. The report pack states that NHS England announced approximately 50% cost reductions for ICBs in the 2025/26 financial year, to refocus resources on frontline care as part of the 10 Year Health Plan. The report pack also states that NHS England published a Model ICB Blueprint, outlining a new role for ICBs as strategic commissioners.

The report pack states that NHS North West London submitted a draft operating model to NHS England and received feedback to develop an options appraisal on future clustering with North West and North Central London ICBs, including the option of a full merger. The options appraisal will be discussed by the NHS North West London Board.

North West London JHOSC Recommendations Tracker

The JHOSC was scheduled to review the 2023/24 and 2024/25 recommendations trackers. According to the report pack, these trackers provide a summary of scrutiny recommendations made during the previous two municipal years, decisions made by NHS colleagues, and oversight of implementation progress.

North West London JHOSC 2025/26 Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to discuss and confirm its draft work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year. The report pack states that the work programme outlines the decisions and health policy areas the committee plans to review, with a focus on scrutinising plans for meeting the health needs of the population and arranging for the provision of health services in North West London.

The confirmed meeting dates included in the Public Reports Pack were:

• Thursday 17 July 2025
• Tuesday 09 September 2025
• Tuesday 09 December 2025
• Thursday 16 March 2026

The scheduled agenda items for each meeting were:

Tuesday 09 September 2025

• Cancer Screening & Early Diagnosis
• The future of Place Based Partnerships delivering health and care services
• SEN Continence Service

Tuesday 09 December 2025

• Urgent and Emergency Care Delivery
• Implementation of the Same Day Access Model in Primary Care (building on previous scrutiny in March 2024)
• Application of the Continuing Healthcare Criteria – including specifics on funding, equity and financial implications relating to recent announcements

Thursday 19 March 2026

• Dentist Commissioning and Children's Dental Health
• Digital Health, Data Use, AI and Digital Inclusion
• Weight Loss Drug Supply and Roll Out
• Maternity Strategy

It is important to note that this summary is based on the agenda and reports pack available prior to the meeting. Without access to a meeting transcript, it is impossible to say whether these topics were actually discussed, or what conclusions or decisions were reached.