The Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee convened to discuss the Sheffield Winter Plan 2025/26, the Long Covid Rehabilitation Clinic, and the committee's work programme. The sub-committee noted the content of the Winter Plan and agreed to progress with the proposed format for a progress report in Spring 2026. Members also noted the content of the Long Covid Rehabilitation Clinic report and the work programme, with some amendments.

Winter Plan 2025/26 and Waiting Lists

The sub-committee reviewed the Sheffield Winter Plan 2025/26, which aims to create a proactive and integrated system that can adapt to changing demands. The plan focuses on strengthening community and voluntary sector capacity to ensure resources are appropriately allocated.

Zak McMurray, medical director for the South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), presented the plan, highlighting the importance of self-care and community support to reduce hospital demand. He noted that the current system is overly complex, with multiple points of entry, and that work was being done with ambulance services, 111, and accident and emergency departments to simplify the process. The Winter Plan focuses on escalating community resource use when demand increases, and de-escalating when demand falls, to reduce costs.

Councillor Steve Ayris, Deputy Chair of the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee, raised concerns about how the ICB's reorganisation might affect the Winter Plan's progress. Zak McMurray acknowledged this as a concern, stating it was difficult to comment without seeing the plans, but noted the need to reduce bureaucracy and increase efficiency. He cautioned that money is often invested in the wrong areas and worried that the system could become transactional and lose its nuance.

Lucy Davies from Healthwatch asked about the correct vaccination route and how this information is communicated to the public. Zak McMurray explained that the standard approach is to visit a local practice or private care networks. He also noted that vaccine hesitancy in deprived areas was a concern, and practices in those areas were receiving extra funding to compensate for the challenges of recalling patients and not meeting targets.

Councillor Mary Lea, Chair of the East Local Area Committee, questioned how far community outreach extends to encourage vaccination and whether vaccinations could occur outside of practices. Zak McMurray explained that Covid vaccinations were previously bespoke, resource-intensive, and expensive. While practices in deprived communities attempt to engage, they lack the funding to reflect this additional work, and vaccinations must occur in a clinic setting to be financially viable.

Councillor Sophie Crossthorn, Deputy Chair of the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee, inquired about mental health service accessibility and travel distances for support. Zak McMurray admitted this was not his area of expertise but agreed that people were travelling too far. He emphasised the need to balance bespoke care with family access.

Councillor Fran Belbin, Deputy Leader of the Council, asked about the role of schools in the mental health partnership. Zak McMurray stated that schools play a significant role, and funding has been allocated to schools to increase their mental health support.

Councillor Laura McClean, Group Spokesperson for the Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee, asked about efforts to ensure that people in deprived communities or those who do not speak English as a first language understand their child's eligibility for vaccination. Zak McMurray said that there was a combination of communications, specific outreach, and community engagement to encourage uptake.

Councillor Steve Ayris asked what more the council could do to address the lack of social work resources for mental health. Zak McMurray responded that there were two aspects. The first was that even if the council had the resources there were not the requisite people to hire. The second was that the system inappropriately admits patients so it was not working under optimum levels and if you reduced the number of patients initiated that would take a burden off of the backend.

The sub-committee agreed to note the content of the Winter Plan and to discuss and agree on a progress report format for Spring 2026.

Long Covid Rehabilitation Clinic

The sub-committee discussed the Long Covid Rehabilitation Clinic, its outcomes, waiting times, and capacity. Zak McMurray explained that the Long Covid hub was a national initiative with ringfenced funding for a bespoke Covid service, focused on clinical intervention and helping people return to work.

With current Covid strains being less severe, there is an opportunity to redesign the hub for better value for money, as the funding is no longer ringfenced. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals agreed to reduce service costs through increased efficiency as case volumes decreased. Work is underway to determine if patients can be managed elsewhere in the system or if a community-based service for Long Covid, Chronic Fatigue, and Chronic Pain could be created. However, the ICB's current reorganisation makes it difficult to predict long-term capacity.

Zak McMurray noted that deprived communities are underrepresented in the clinics, possibly due to lack of awareness and accessibility, and that work was being done to create a more bespoke service for these groups.

Councillor Sophie Crossthorn asked for examples of efficiencies that created savings and how optimistic Zak McMurray was about the service's future. Zak McMurray explained that the service was initially created with more capacity than needed, which has since been reduced, and efficiencies were also achieved by sharing administrative resources. However, he could not confirm the long-term future due to the ICB restructure.

Councillor Fran Belbin asked if current users were being consulted on the hub's future. Zak McMurray confirmed their commitment to working with the existing provider and potentially moving the service into the community.

Lucy Davies questioned the current approach and efforts to ensure information reaches the right people. Councillor Laura McClean also questioned whether GPs were aware of the information, as few hub appointments resulted from GP referrals. Zak McMurray explained that GPs have opportunities to upskill, but system pressures limit their time. Sheffield has a Protective Learning Initiative where practices close for a day for staff and GP training, and a Sheffield portal provides GPs with learning and pathways, but there is no dedicated time for upskilling in the GP contract.

Lucy Davies requested a committee review of the plan and a report in due course. Zak McMurray agreed, stating his desire to change the system and service or, if not possible, to keep the service and improve accessibility.

The Policy and Improvement Officer suggested bringing the model back to the committee for consultation. Zak McMurray agreed, noting that significant changes would require consultation and notice, but financial difficulties sometimes override decision-making.

The sub-committee resolved to note the content of the Long Covid Rehabilitation Clinic report.

Work Programme

The Policy and Improvement Officer presented the work programme, and members agreed to several amendments to the 2025/26 schedule. The follow-up report on Long Covid was added, the dedicated session on Equalities was moved from January 2026 to allow more preparation time, and the Continuing Healthcare workshop is to be arranged before Christmas if possible.

The sub-committee resolved to note the content of the work programme.