The North Central London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on 12 September 2025 to discuss the St Pancras Hospital Transformation Programme, the North Central London Integrated Care System finances, and the potential reconfiguration of the North Central London Integrated Care Board. Councillor Pippa Connor, Chair, and Councillor Joseph Croft were scheduled to be in attendance. The committee was also scheduled to hear a deputation from Haringey Keep Our NHS Public.

Haringey Keep Our NHS Public Deputation

Haringey Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) was scheduled to present a deputation to the committee. Alan Morton and Rod Wells from Haringey KONP were expected attend the meeting. Haringey KONP planned to raise concerns about changes in health and care in North Central London (NCL). Specifically, they were expected to say that the planned merger of NCL and North West London (NWL) Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) would involve a 50% reduction in staff numbers, which would make restructuring NHS services more difficult. They also planned to raise concerns that no extra funding would be provided for the changes, and that any new investment in neighbourhood hubs would have to come from cuts to existing budgets, or from new public-private partnerships. Haringey KONP planned to ask the committee to press NCL/NWL ICB for an urgent and full discussion of their plans, and to ask what plans there were for the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) after the merger. They also planned to raise concerns that the merged ICB would be more remote from residents, especially given the reduced role for Healthwatch¹.

Haringey KONP planned to urge the committee to press NCL/NWL ICB for a full discussion of their plans, especially for neighbourhood health centres, at the next meeting of JHOSC.

St Pancras Hospital Transformation Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the NHS's engagement and involvement approach to the St Pancras Hospital Transformation Programme. The report set out the NHS's approach to involving patients, service users, carers, and wider stakeholders in decision-making around services proposed to move off the St Pancras Hospital site as part of the programme. The report described services run by the North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT), the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL), the engagement and involvement activity conducted to date, and next steps. The report stated that insights from this work were having tangible and meaningful impacts on decision-making. The report stated that the primary aim of the programme was to transform and improve the mental and physical healthcare services that patients in North Central London receive, and that proceeds from land sales had already started to deliver new healthcare facilities across Camden and Islington. The report stated that North London NHS Foundation Trust had already invested over £100 million in mental health facilities because of the St Pancras Hospital Transformation Programme, including facilities at Highgate East and Lowther Road. The report stated that as well as retaining some NHS services in a refurbished South Wing at St Pancras Hospital, the site would also be the home for Oriel – a new centre for Moorfields Eye Hospital planned to open in 2027. The report stated that the site would also include new public spaces and about 200 new homes, including those for social and affordable rent, and that the site was designated for development in this way in the Draft New Camden Local Plan. The report stated that the St Pancras capital development would deliver improved mental health and community services, as well as improvements in the delivery of care for residents and patients, and would help enable population health improvement. The report stated that the St Pancras Hospital Transformation Programme built on the former Camden and Islington NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups' 2018 consultation on the future of mental health services provided by Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, and that some of the changes consulted on in 2018 had already been delivered, such as the relocation of services to new facilities at Highgate East and Lowther Road. The report stated that NHS providers and commissioners have a statutory duty, under the National Health Service Act 2006 (amended by the Health and Care Act 2022), to involve patients and the public in decision-making around services. The report stated that North London NHS Foundation Trust was working with its development partner, Kings Cross Central Limited Partnership, to undertake and oversee the site's regeneration. The report stated that the NHS was committed to keeping services such as intermediate care rehabilitation beds located on the St Pancras Hospital site, and was looking to bring these together in South Wing, which would be sensitively refurbished and repaired, while retaining the heritage and history of the original Victorian estate. The report stated that the services which were proposed to move from the site were not changing, and would continue to care for the same patients and service users, receive referrals in the same way, and treat the same numbers of people – just in vastly improved and more modern environments. The report stated that the programme was characterised by a number of proposed service moves across differing clinical areas, planned to take place at different times until August 2027, and that these services were currently commissioned by North Central London ICB and provided on the St Pancras Hospital site by three different providers: North London NHS Foundation Trust, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. The report stated that most of the services were relatively small and local, and that the proposals were to relocate services 'as is', with no changes to the way services are provided, to whom, or their capacity. The report stated that the moves would result in embracing the opportunities provided by new locations, for example, by ensuring modern, fit-for-purpose buildings that would provide improved clinical and therapeutic environments, and that there were no material changes proposed to the service models or pathways. The report stated that as a result, a focused, targeted engagement with affected patients, service users, carers, and groups was being undertaken, and that equality impact assessments and quality impact assessments had been carried out to identify any cohorts of patients, service users and local people who would be affected by the proposed service moves. The report stated that the involvement approach was also focused on engaging and listening to these additionally identified groups to help better understand and then mitigate any negative impacts where possible. The report stated that each NHS organisation involved was carrying out internal engagement with their affected staff, including face-to-face and online sessions, regular communication and information shared through 'frequently asked questions' and briefings, and formal HR consultations where the locations of people's workplaces are proposed to change. The report stated that the proposals closely aligned with the 2018 public consultation, although, seven years on, some original aspirations had been re-prioritised. The report stated that underpinning the approach was a collective ambition to involve those who use the services, staff, and local people in planning, and a commitment to keeping conversations going and continuing to seek, listen to and incorporate the views and needs of patients, staff, local communities and partners and stakeholders in emerging proposals.

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust – long term conditions

The report stated that CNWL currently runs the following services at the St Pancras Hospital site which have recently moved, or are in the process of moving, to the Peckwater Centre in Camden:

• Camden community heart failure service (c.185 referrals a year)
• Camden COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and home oxygen service (c.800 new referrals and c.4,000 patient contacts in the last 12 months)
• Camden podiatry service and surgical procedures (surgery: average c.900 referrals and c.2,000 patient contacts a year; specialist podiatry: average c.240 referrals and c.1,400 patient contacts a year)
• Camden community diabetes service (c.1750 referrals in 2024)

The report stated that the North Central London Clinical Advisory Group discussed and supported the proposed moves of the CNWL services to the Peckwater Centre in March 2025, and that clinicians gave their support to the proposal based on the rationale that services could become more integrated within a community-based setting. The report stated that CNWL data shows no statistically significant variance relating to ethnicity for the cohort of patients that will have to travel longer distances to Peckwater, but that there was a slight over representation of patients of Bangladeshi ethnicity negatively impacted by the move to Peckwater, in terms of travel times, and for this reason a specific engagement event took place to ensure their views were heard, with the support of a local advocacy group. The report stated that independent travel analysis had been conducted which shows that, overall, the Peckwater Centre offers better connectivity for public transport users, with comparable walking and driving times, and that there is a slight reduction in cycle catchment. The report stated that through a mixture of one-to-one discussions and focus group meetings, CNWL had engaged with more than 40 patients and five carers who use the services that are proposed to move, and that the trust was also a key contributor to discussions at the Peckwater patient, carer, and stakeholder event convened by North Central London ICB in January 2025. The report stated that throughout the engagement that CNWL and NCL ICB conducted, there were no major concerns voiced by patients or carers regarding the moves, and many fed back that they welcomed it. The report stated that feedback in relation to CNWL's proposals to move long term condition services to Peckwater included that:

• Peckwater has a more frequent bus service
• People would support the services being provided from a newer building
• The walk from the bus stop would be longer, so some may require patient transport
• A map and public transport information should be provided
• The current facilities on the St Pancras Hospital site are poor

The report stated that at a specific listening event for people of Bangladeshi ethnicity, people fed back that they generally had no concerns about the change in location as long as Bengali language information continued to be available, which CNWL has committed to. The report stated that beyond effective communication and the provision of patient information about the change and travel information in multiple languages, including Bengali, no further mitigations are felt to be required at this time. The report stated that ongoing engagement would continue once the services have moved, to ensure that any unforeseen impacts can continue to be mitigated where possible, including through a newly established Peckwater Advisory Group, proactive conversations with patients when they attend for appointments in the centre, further conversations with patients and carers who have taken part in engagement exercises already and who are happy to be contacted in future, and regular NHS Friends and Family Tests. The report stated that the CNWL services are also using the 'Triangle of Care' scheme, which advocates a collaborative approach between patients, carers, and professionals, and that each service has a 'carer champion', and assessments are conducted specifically around how staff are recognising and supporting the needs of carers in the provision of services.

North London NHS Foundation Trust services

The report stated that NLFT currently runs the following services at the St Pancras Hospital site which are proposed to move as part of the transformation programme:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Psychodynamic psychotherapy
• Rivers Crisis House

NLFT – Neurodevelopmental disorders service

The report stated that the neurodevelopmental disorders service is proposed to move to the Peckwater Centre in Camden in October 2025, and includes two sub-specialty specific services: The adult autism diagnostic and consultation service, and the adult ADHD clinic. The report stated that the service receives c.2,800 referrals per year and has an active caseload of c.900 service users, and that service users are mainly drawn from Camden and Islington; however, the autism assessment service supports patients from across North Central London. The report stated that an independent travel analysis showed Peckwater offers better connectivity for public transport and private vehicle users, with comparable walking and cycling catchments compared to now, and that the travel time is less or the same across all metrics measured. The report stated that in carrying out equality impact assessments, the NLFT team identified the small number of people from Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey accessing the autism diagnostic and consultation service as potentially being more impacted, but that further analysis did not show a significant change in journey times for those service users, and that they typically attend a single assessment appointment, meaning the relocation has minimal impact in terms of travel. The report stated that the Peckwater Centre is fully equipped with disability access, including lifts to support wheelchair users and individuals with mobility challenges, and that the service remains committed to supporting people with patient transport services where eligible. The report stated that NLFT has offered several opportunities for engagement in the proposals for the neurodevelopmental disorders service throughout the programme, including the event for Peckwater stakeholders in January 2025, and service specific listening events in May and June 2025 for service users and carers, and an additional event was held in July 2025 for service users, carers, and stakeholders when 20 people attended. The report stated that feedback included themes around:

• Improved facilities and capacity – a larger, purpose-designed space was seen as a significant opportunity to increase service capacity, improve access, and improve the overall experience for patients and staff. There was enthusiasm about the possibility of closer working between the autism and ADHD teams, including around the benefits of potential combined assessments.
• Transport and accessibility – some raised concerns around accessibility and getting to the Peckwater Centre, particularly for those travelling by car. People highlighted the importance of the NHS providing accurate, up-to-date, and accessible travel information, and having it shared before appointments, in formats that are easy to understand and navigate.
• Service design and integration – having other physical and mental health services at the Peckwater Centre was seen as a key strength. People were keen to explore future increased collaboration with voluntary and community sector (VCSE) partners, including organisations such as Mencap and local autism hubs, to help shape a more inclusive and holistic model of care. Participants emphasised the value of creating a seamless experience for service users, particularly those with complex or co-occurring needs.
• Wayfinding and travel support – NLFT heard how navigating unfamiliar environments can cause anxiety for some neurodivergent people. This underlined the need for user-friendly, co-produced signage, clear directions and accessible travel information, and visual travel guides and maps.
• Support for service users – several suggestions were made to reduce anxiety and improve the experience of attending appointments, such as a buddying system to support service users for first appointments, sensory-friendly waiting areas, being clear with people when they arrive around how long they may have to wait, and a buzzer or text system to allow people to leave the waiting area and be alerted when their clinician is ready.

The report stated that some service users are unclear on what to expect from the service and how it relates to their needs, and that participants recommended creating introductory videos, co-produced with people who use the service, to introduce the space and the team, and NLFT has committed to producing these. The report stated that ensuring information and updates are shared consistently across all boroughs was also seen as vital. The report stated that NLFT are incorporating all the valuable feedback they received into their implementation work and the work of the advisory group, which will look at improving joint working between different services using Peckwater, and that the trust will also take forward the recommended actions on signage and communication. The report stated that the trust will also continue to make sure that service users and carers have opportunities to carry on sharing their views once the service has moved, for example to address any early teething problems at the new location.

NLFT – Psychodynamic psychotherapy

The report stated that NLFT's psychodynamic psychotherapy service is a cross-borough service for residents of both Camden and Islington, and that NLFT is proposing to move the service to a new location from the summer of 2026. The report stated that individual psychodynamic psychotherapy is typically for one year with some variability, and that the service sees approximately 110 service users a week in either individual or group sessions. The report stated that NLFT viewed 15 possible sites for the future location of the service, and identified two viable potential locations: The Centro Buildings, in Camden, and The Arts Building, in Islington. The report stated that The Arts Building has subsequently been identified as the preferred option for the new location, because it offers:

• A calmer, less clinical feel with potential for soft lighting, plants, and ventilation
• A more welcoming reception area and natural light
• A spacious lift and easier wheelchair access
• A dedicated floor with a single space for psychotherapy more privacy, better toilet access, single reception area
• A better layout for staff areas, including kitchen and outdoor access
• More clinic rooms and more rooms for group sessions
• Additional space and a location which potentially opens up possibilities of managing any future growth in demand

The report stated that an independent travel analysis found that The Centro Buildings offer better public transport journey times while maintaining similar travel times for walking, cycling and driving, and that The Arts Building is more accessible than St Pancras by public transport but has longer journey times for walking, cycling, and driving. The report stated that three service user experts by experience visited both shortlisted sites in March 2025, and that as well as a site visit, NLFT also held an online and telephone survey and a focus group, gathering additional insights from c12 more people using the service. The report stated that the trust also held an engagement event in July 2025, and the 17 attendees included service users and carers, as well as representatives from Mind. The report stated that the preference of those service users visiting both sites was for the Arts Building, based on:

• Proximity to Finsbury Park underground and train station, and bus station
• Pavement level access and a more spacious lift
• The amount of natural light and views over London
• That toilets are available within the proposed NHS space, rather than being shared with other tenants
• A layout which was more welcoming, calming, and easily negotiated

The report stated that the key themes of feedback from the focus group, survey, and July engagement event included:

• Travel, access, and feeling safe: while the service from the proposed new location would be convenient in terms of public transport, some service users from Camden (especially South Camden) may face longer journeys. It was also acknowledged that the journey by public transport would be busy and so clear travel guidance was requested and will be provided.
• Therapeutic environment and clinical considerations: familiarity of spaces, including therapy rooms and waiting areas, was highlighted as central to service users' comfort and progress. Using similar decoration or furnishing to the current location could help with the transition.
• Transition support strategies: including around buddying systems and gradual introductions to the new location, as well as visual aids (such as video walk-throughs and photos), and bringing comforting items from the existing site – such as the book exchange, waiting room scent, and even the same plants – can help reduce disruption.
• Staff experience and impact: The current environment was described as physically uncomfortable whereas the proposed new site offers light, space, rest areas, and a terrace. Many staff are honorary clinicians and trainees expressed motivation to relocate with the service.
• Communication and outreach: people also highlighted the importance of early engagement with referrers (GPs, Age UK, Mind), expressed a desire for an event at the new site to orient stakeholders and referrers, and for the service to use varied communication methods beyond standard letters.

The report stated that insights from the engagement will guide service design, such as tailoring communication, improving accessibility, and ensuring the therapeutic environment meets the needs of all service users, and that early engagement with GPs and community groups is also underway.

NLFT – Rivers Crisis House

The report stated that Rivers Crisis House (sometimes also referred to as South Camden Crisis House) is located on the St Pancras Hospital site and supports people in a mental health crisis, and provides service users with an 'alternative to admission' to a mental health inpatient bed, and a 'step down' from an inpatient stay on a mental health ward if people are not yet clinically ready to return home. The report stated that across the geography that NLFT serves, there is one crisis house (or crisis prevention house) in each borough, except for Camden, which currently has two: Rivers Crisis House at St Pancras Hospital, and North Camden Crisis House at Daleham Gardens. The report stated that Rivers Crisis House and North Camden Crisis House have six beds each, and that in the year up to July 2025, 157 service users accessed Rivers Crisis House (and 142 accessed North Camden Crisis House). The report stated that following engagement and an options evaluation process conducted with service user experts by experience, carers, partners, stakeholders and staff, it is proposed that the six beds at Rivers Crisis House will be brought together with the existing six beds in the North Camden Crisis House at Daleham Gardens to make a 12-bedded facility. The report stated that the alternative shortlisted option was to move the Rivers Crisis House beds to a property in Early Mews, Camden, and this was discounted following feedback. The report stated that the proposed move will create one crisis house for Camden, bring it into line with the other boroughs, and make the service more efficient to run. The report stated that building work will mean that new admissions to Daleham Gardens will have to be temporarily suspended for a period of approximately eight months from October 2025, and that to mitigate this temporary impact, demand and capacity for crisis beds across North Central London has been assessed and the following measures are planned:

• Optimise the use of crisis beds resilience across NCL – a review of data from August 2023 to August 2025 confirms that there has been an average of six vacant beds daily across NCL's 67 crisis prevention beds.
• Reserve vacant beds at Highbury Grove Crisis House for male Camden service users – male service users would be cared for at close-by Highbury Grove Crisis House just across the border in Islington.
• Prioritise female admissions at Rivers Crisis House – which aligns with other mitigations to ensure gender equity and effective management of patient flows during the short-term works.

The report stated that NLFT will work closely with community teams, partners, and service users to ensure a smooth and safe transition. The report stated that independent travel analysis found that while there is a difference in travel times between the two potential sites, in the main, the difference in journey times for Daleham Gardens compared to Early Mews is one of a few minutes longer, and that the greatest difference is seen across maximum journey times by public transport in peak times – Daleham Gardens would take five minutes longer on average than getting to St Pancras, whereas Early Mews would take seven minutes less. The report stated that engagement with service users has highlighted that there are disbenefits of being 'too central' (in terms of noise, volume of other people around and overwhelm, etc) and there is a general sense that the benefits of co-locating the crisis houses at Daleham Gardens, and the environment we are able to provide there, far outweigh the marginal differences in travel times. The report stated that in May 2025, NLFT discussed the proposed move with its Service User Alliance and hosted site visits for four service users and one carer, and that across May and June 2025, the trust also held two options appraisal events to involve service users and those with lived experience of the crisis houses, as well as carers, staff and other stakeholders in Camden, in evaluating and assessing both site options. The report stated that during August 2025, NLFT held:

• Two 'look and feel' design workshops with five service users and five members of staff, bringing them together with the architects and design team to review updated designs and focus on specific features such as layout, lighting, colours, materials, and accessibility, allowing attendees to provide further input before final designs are confirmed.
• An engagement session on accessibility with four people with disabilities or longterm health conditions and experience of using crisis houses. The focus was to identify accessibility requirements and adjustments to ensure the service is safe, welcoming, and easy to use for people with physical, sensory, cognitive, or mental health-related access needs.
• An engagement session with six women with lived experience to share their views and/or any concerns about the new Rivers Crisis House proposed at Daleham Gardens. The focus was on ensuring the environment supports women's safety, dignity, and wellbeing during a mental health crisis.

The report stated that the proposals have also been discussed in a range of one-to-one conversations with stakeholders, such as Healthwatch and Hopscotch Women's Centre in Camden. The report stated that feedback from service users, carers, and stakeholders included reflections on comparisons between the two shortlisted options:

The report stated that feedback was also given on Daleham Gardens as the preferred new site location:

The report stated that a period of ongoing engagement on the impact of the proposed move is planned so that we can understand any further steps the service needs to take to mitigate issues and concerns.

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

RFL – dialysis and renal outpatient services

The report stated that the St Pancras Kidney and Diabetes Centre at St Pancras Hospital (formerly known as the Mary Rankin Dialysis Unit) delivers a range of services including dialysis, and renal outpatient services, and that this service is provided by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. The report stated that dialysis and renal outpatient services are expected to move off the St Pancras Hospital site in 2027. The report stated that the service provides 120 renal outpatient clinics a month, and currently cares for about 250 patients receiving dialysis (most of whom visit three times a week), and a further c250 patients with a severe decline in kidney function currently receive specialist care, and also runs community chronic kidney disease clinics for those with chronic kidney disease who are less acutely unwell. The report stated that following an extensive search process, including a review of seven potential new premises, the trust has identified 125 Finchley Road in Camden as its preferred location for the new dialysis unit. The report stated that the finalisation of this proposed location in Finchley Road is subject to the outcome of a tender process that RFL is undertaking to identify a 'managed service' partner, and other required NHS governance approvals, and that this means that, at this stage, the preferred location is still provisional, and it is expected to complete internal processes and confirm the final location by summer 2026. The report stated that to move diabetes services to Peckwater and enable more integrated care in the community for long-term conditions and mental health, it is proposed that the current diabetes and renal outpatient services should be 'decoupled.' The report stated that the diabetes service, run by CNWL, is moving to the Peckwater Centre and therefore will no longer be provided alongside renal dialysis, and that this proposal emerged from the discussions between the NHS and local community at the July 2024 Peckwater stakeholder engagement event. The report stated that the number of patients affected by the proposed decoupling of services is small and the impact of this has been reviewed by clinical leaders across North Central London, and that on average, four patients a week who are receiving dialysis also currently access a specialist diabetes podiatry review while they are on site. The report stated that the agreed clinical pathways for any kidney patient needing specialist diabetic care describe how, in future, these reviews will be offered to patients in their homes or in a local Camden health centre. The report stated that the proposed service moves are supported by senior clinicians from across NCL, including senior primary care clinicians in Camden and senior clinical staff at CNWL, including the CNWL Chief Medical Officer, and that the North Central London ICB Chief Medical Officer jointly chaired the Peckwater engagement event on the proposals in January 2025, and the North Central London Clinical Advisory Group supports the proposed moves. The report stated that as well as those patients and carers who will have a longer/more difficult journey to the new location compared to the current one, RFL has identified older people who are less likely to be able to use public transport and patients with a mental health condition (and their carers) as potentially disproportionately affected by the move, and that this includes those who are neurodiverse and those with a learning disability, as the proposed move could cause confusion or anxiety about changes in their healthcare. The report stated that the RFL team have identified mitigations to the potentially negative impacts, such as improved parking, signposting those who are eligible to the non-emergency patient transport service, and continuity of care from the clinical and administrative teams to reduce anxiety and confusion. The report stated that any drawbacks are also balanced by the advantages of what will be an improved clinical environment in a modern centre, expanded capacity (with 60 dialysis stations compared to the current 42), and a unit tailored to people's needs with enhanced infection control, privacy and dignity, and anticipated better patient experience as a result, and that further improvements, such as improved temperature control and acoustics compared to the current location, will be of particular benefit for older patients. The report stated that independent travel analysis based on the current patient cohort has found that 125 Finchley Road is marginally further than St Pancras Hospital for both dialysis patients and renal outpatients, and that to counter this marginal impact, there would be an ambulance drop-off point and an improved disabled and non-disabled parking area at the new location compared to what is currently available at the St Pancras site. The report stated that engagement activity carried out in 2024 and 2025 has focused on patients and carers being able to contribute to the site selection process for the new unit, including the criteria that the sites would be assessed against, and has included:

• A survey of dialysis patients and renal outpatients to find out what is important to patients, with 178 responses
• Involving the RFL Kidney Patients' Association in site visits and setting site search criteria, of the process for confirming the final shortlist, and selecting 125 Finchley Road as the preferred site
• An expert panel meeting to review the criteria for site selection, which included expert patient input from the Chair of the Royal Free Hospital Kidney Patient Association
• A stakeholder workshop, including patient and carer participants, Camden residents and representatives from the community, such as Camden Patient and Public Engagement Group and Camden Disability Action, local advocacy groups, local councillors and representative from partner services such as the patient transport provider
• RFL Kidney Patients' Association involvement in contributing to the patient experience component of the tender evaluation process – including agreeing relevant evaluation questions – for the procurement of a managed service supplier that is aligned with the proposed service move

The report stated that while neither RFL, nor the RFL Kidney Patient's Association, have received any negative feedback to date about the move, from patients, stakeholders or staff, there is a healthy interest in what the new unit will be like and how their experience will change. The report stated that as the proposed move for dialysis services is not until 2027, engagement to date has been on enabling patients, carers, and stakeholders to influence the site selection process and ensuring our staff and patients are kept informed of progress, and that regular written updates and face-to-face engagement with patients by clinical staff involved in delivering the relocation are in place. The report stated that while engagement and involvement of patients, carers and other stakeholders will be ongoing, some initial insights from activity to date is described below: