The Adult Social Care & Health Scrutiny Committee met to discuss cardiovascular disease prevention and the quality of care services in Liverpool. The committee noted the progress of the Cardiovascular Disease Community Health Checks Programme and provided feedback. They also discussed the Care Market Quality report and agreed to forward their feedback to the Cabinet Member and Directorate, and requested a future report on the work undertaken by Healthwatch¹.

Cardiovascular Disease Community Health Checks Programme

The committee reviewed the Cardiovascular Disease Community Health Checks Programme, which aims to improve early detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Liverpool. The programme includes NHS Health Checks², the Community Blood Pressure Champion Programme, the Know Your Numbers campaign, and the development of Health Check Kiosks and the council's Lifestyles Health & Wellbeing Checks. The Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, highlighted that an estimated 47,000 residents in the city are unaware they have high blood pressure. Officers stated that awareness campaigns are a key part of improving health outcomes, referencing the Liverpool 2040 report which outlined poor health in the area.

The committee discussed the use of AI, increasing social prescribing, and the importance of local facilities like leisure centres. They also welcomed the recent ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s and noted a Health and Wellbeing Board meeting that addressed local ketamine usage.

The committee suggested that the Health Check Kiosks should initially target areas with the worst health outcomes, considering deprivation and ethnicity. It was noted that councillors can recommend venues for the services via neighbourhood managers or public health. Support for promoting checks is being provided through local organisations, GPs, Primary Care Networks, social media, and blood pressure champions.

The committee agreed to support the campaigns by participating in blood pressure checks and volunteering as blood pressure champions.

Care Market Quality

The Director of Integrated Commissioning, Ellie Garnett, presented the Care Market Quality report, which outlined the work undertaken to improve quality management in the care market over the past two years, and the next steps planned.

The Quality Assurance Framework, introduced in early 2025, focuses on engagement with people using services, continuous improvement, risk management, quality assurance activities, and collaboration. Regular Provider Forums are held, chaired by Quality Assurance or Commissioning staff.

The council has prioritised its relationship with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)³, including information sharing sessions to discuss services at high risk. A Quality Assurance Group monitors the performance of all providers to drive up standards. The committee raised the issue of recruitment and retention, suggesting that providers paying the living wage could help. Officers acknowledged that while some providers do pay the real living wage, it remains a challenge across the market.

The committee welcomed the local authority and Healthwatch⁴'s visits to homes, given the infrequency of CQC inspections, with some homes not having been visited in over five years. The committee also referenced work by the Royal College of Nursing on addressing the stigma of working in a care home.

The committee resolved to note the report, forward feedback to the Cabinet Member and Directorate, and receive a future report on the work undertaken by Healthwatch.

Work Plan Action Tracker

The committee received an update on the Work Plan Action Tracker. Leigh Thompson, NHS ICB Liverpool Place, advised that the ICB are still in negotiations with a provider to have end-of-life beds in place by late September/early October, though it will not be a like-for-like service from the previous Marie Curie service. The committee noted the tracker and update.

Ketamine Update

The Director of Health provided an overview of the ketamine usage and support services agenda item, which had been considered at a meeting of the Liverpool Health and Wellbeing Board earlier that day, as requested by the Chair. The information was noted.