The Care, Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to discuss the financial sustainability of Gateshead Health, performance updates on carer services, sexual health service delivery, and the annual complaints report. They will also review their work programme for the year.

Gateshead Health's Financial Sustainability

The committee is scheduled to discuss a presentation on securing a sustainable future for Gateshead Health. The presentation included in the public reports pack notes that Gateshead is one of three NHS trusts in the north east that is in deficit, and that they are facing a £33 million cost reduction programme in both 2025/26 and 2026/27.

The presentation states that the trust is seeing fewer patients than in 2019/20, patients are waiting longer for treatment, and patients are spending longer in hospital, despite having two more wards open. It also notes that the workforce has grown by more than 600 since 2019/20.

The report pack states that the trust is aiming to protect front-line services, expand community care, and invest in clinical areas that support long-term sustainability. The presentation also states that staff voices are shaping the process and that communication is key.

The presentation identifies 20 high-impact schemes that focus on estates, digital, workforce and improving patient flow.

Carers Service Performance

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the All Age Caregiver Contract 2024-2027, which is jointly funded by Gateshead Council and the North East North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB).

The report pack states that 1,153 all-age carers and young carers were referred to the service in the first contract year. The service model was developed in line with the Gateshead Adult Caregivers Strategy 2024-2029, which launched in May 2024, and in consultation with young and young adult carers.

The five priority themes of the strategy are:

1. Information and Advice
2. Valuing Caregivers
3. Money and Finances
4. Employment and Education
5. Health of Caregivers

The report pack includes case studies, such as Lisa, a 26-year-old community nurse caring for her grandmother with Alzheimer's, and Molly, an 11-year-old helping to care for her autistic brother.

The report pack notes that a Young Carers strategy is in development and will be published in 2026.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Services

The committee is scheduled to receive an overview of sexual and reproductive health service delivery in Gateshead, as detailed in the Final Version Care Health and Wellbeing OSC - Sexual Health Update September 2025 report.

The report pack states that since 2012, Public Health have commissioned sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services across the borough, that operate on an open access basis and are free at the point of access.

The report pack notes that sexual health has been incorporated as a priority area for action in the council's Public Health approach to achieve the aims of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy for the Borough of Gateshead.

The report pack provides an overview of SRH statistics for Gateshead, including data on STI diagnoses, HIV diagnoses, and long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). It also provides an overview of the Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health Service (ISHS) performance.

The report pack highlights several service developments, including the establishment of the Gateshead Sexual Health Network, a health-related behaviour questionnaire, widening clinic access across the borough, widening a targeted community offer, and digital advancements.

The report pack also notes that the ISHS has commenced offering the gonorrhoea vaccine to eligible residents and that the service received funding from Public Health to purchase equipment to enable them to become a training facility.

Annual Complaints and Compliments Report

The committee is scheduled to consider the Adult Social Care Annual Complaints Report for April 2024 - March 2025.

The Annual Report ASC 2425 report included in the report pack states that a total of 89 complaints were received about Adult Social Care Services, of which 47 were classified as statutory complaints. This marks a 45% reduction compared to the 154 complaints received in 2023/24.

The report pack notes that Adult Social Care handled 8,612 referrals, including assessments and reviews, meaning only 1.03% of contacts resulted in a formal complaint.

The report pack also states that the number of Complaint Related Queries (CRQs)—low-level issues resolved within one working day—also fell from 60 to 31, continuing a positive trend in early resolution.

The report pack highlights that disputes over care charges represented 26.9% (24) of all complaints received and that 86.5% of all representations received during the year were compliments.

The report pack also details the Social Care Complaints and Feedback Improvement Project, which aims to reduce complaint volumes, improve the experience of individuals raising concerns, and support staff investigating complaints.

Work Programme

The committee is scheduled to review the Work Programme 2025/26, as set out in the CHW OSC 2025-26_Work Programme agenda version document. The remit of the Care, Health, and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee is to perform scrutiny in relation to:

1. All the functions of the council as a social services authority except those services provided to children and young people.
2. The provision of health services in the borough, including the function of reviewing and scrutinising matters relating to the health service to adults as set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2001 and associated regulations.
3. The provision of health services to children and young people in the borough.
4. The health functions discharged by the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Director of Public Health under the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and the National Health Service Act 2006 (as amended) and any related enactment.

The work programme is a live document that is subject to additions as the committee sees appropriate.