The Health Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 1 October 2025, to discuss several health-related topics. These included life after stroke services in Barking and Dagenham, and appointments to the Outer North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (ONEL JHOSC). The committee was also scheduled to review its work programme for the municipal year 2025/26.

Update on Life After Stroke Services

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on life after stroke services in Barking and Dagenham. A presentation was planned to provide the Health Scrutiny Committee with information, building on a previous overview of the stroke pathway given in September 2024.

The report pack included an appendix that described the current state of stroke services in Barking and Dagenham, and compared them to services in other parts of North East London (NEL). It noted that stroke can have varied effects on individuals, from minor and short-lived to severe and long-term, impacting muscle control, sensation, communication, and mood. The report emphasised the importance of support after a person returns home to ensure long-term recovery, independence, and quality of life.

A key element of this support is the six-month review, described as:

an important opportunity for a structured conversation between a person living with stroke and a health professional or stroke worker. The review helps to identify how well the individual is managing, highlight any unmet needs, and signpost to local services that can offer further support.

The North East London Integrated Care Board (NEL ICB) has mapped six-month review provision and wider Life After Stroke services across the sector to identify variations and ensure a consistent and equitable offer for residents.

In Barking and Dagenham, six-month stroke reviews are provided by North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) through the Community Rehabilitation Service (CRS). The report pack stated that these reviews are completed within the expected timeframe using a standardised assessment tool, and are offered to all stroke patients referred to the service within four to eight months post-stroke. These reviews are conducted by trained team members or a stroke specialist nurse.

Challenges identified include the absence of a clearly defined referral process from acute care to CRS, resulting in some eligible residents not being offered a six-month review. Data also indicated limited uptake by residents when offered a review, with reasons not always identifiable. Potential capacity constraints within CRS were also noted, which could make it more difficult to meet the needs of all those referred if uptake or referral levels increase.

The report pack stated that, compared to other boroughs, residents of Barking and Dagenham have limited access to stroke-specific support for communication difficulties, exercise groups, mood, and return to work.

To address these issues and strengthen life after stroke support across NEL, the NEL Long-Term Conditions (LTC) Team is working in partnership with the Community Provider Collaborative and wider stakeholders to develop a Core–Enhanced–Aspirational offer for community stroke and neuro rehabilitation. This programme aims to ensure all residents have access to a consistent level of care, with changes to community stroke services anticipated from 2027/28.

In the meantime, several NEL-wide initiatives are underway, including:

• A NEL Six-Month Review Task and Finish Group, aiming to design a NEL-wide referral pathway by December 2025 to improve consistency and access to reviews.
• A review of Stroke Association services by April 2026, to identify opportunities to reduce variation across boroughs.

Regular contractual meetings with community providers are also being held to address quality issues, reduce waiting times, and strengthen therapy provision.

Appointments to the Outer North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Health Scrutiny Committee was asked to confirm the appointment of three of its members to the Outer North East London (ONEL) Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC).

The ONEL JHOSC is composed of representatives from Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest councils. Essex County Council may nominate one full member, while Thurrock Borough Council, the Borough of Brentwood, and the District of Epping Forest councils may each nominate an observing member.

The ONEL JHOSC was established to address health matters that cross local authority boundaries. The report pack stated that, in circumstances where a relevant NHS body or health service provider consults more than one local authority's health scrutiny function about substantial reconfiguration proposals, only the joint committee may respond to the consultation, require the provision of information, or require members or employees of the relevant NHS body or health service provider to attend and answer questions.

The report pack stated that there are typically four JHOSC meetings a year, hosted in turn by each of the boroughs. The chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee from the hosting borough would chair the JHOSC meeting.

The first JHOSC meeting of 2025/26 was held on Tuesday 8th July 2025. The remaining JHOSC meetings for the year will take place on:

• Thursday 23 October 2025
• Tuesday 20 January 2026
• Thursday 16 April 2026

The report pack stated that, in Barking and Dagenham, the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee are usually appointed to the JHOSC as standard practice. As Councillor Michel Pongo is the Chair and Councillor Donna Lumsden is the Deputy Chair, it was recommended that they be appointed to sit on the JHOSC for the 2025/26 municipal year, with the third member appointment to be put forward at the meeting.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to discuss its work programme for the municipal year 2025/26. According to the provided schedule, the following topics are planned for future meetings:

• Wednesday, 10 December 2025: GP Performance and Development in the Borough, and Public Health Grant spending.
• Wednesday, 4 February 2026: Roll out of weight loss jabs, early impact of healthy weight commissioning, and sexual health clinic with a focus on HIV.