The Inner North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (INEL JHOSC) was scheduled to meet on 15 October 2025 to elect a chair and vice-chair, review the minutes from the previous meeting, and discuss a health update, finance review, LGBTQ+ health services, improving GP access, and the scrutiny report.

Here's a summary of the topics that were listed for discussion:

The Scrutiny Report

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Scrutiny Report, which included a review of the forward plan, action tracker, and recommendations tracker from the previous meeting. The INEL JHOSC Scrutiny Forward Plan 25/26 Cycle: Rationale included the following items:

• Primary Care, including a case study demonstrating how a practice could reduce waiting times for non-urgent appointments and NHS reporting on performance monitoring data for practices with new telephony systems.
• An update on the Cass Review¹ and sexual health.
• Health and Finance updates.

Items suggested by members on 6 November 2024:

• The impact of the Cass Review on the Integrated Care Board (ICB).
• The 10-year plan and its impact on North East London (NEL).

Suggested items from INEL JHOSC members:

• Services transferring to ICBs for local commissioning, previously commissioned nationally or regionally, including plans to prepare for local delegation, how the amount of money has been calculated, and implications of transferring specialist commissioning from NHS England to ICBs, notably HIV treatment and care commissioning.
• Improving outcomes for black women in maternity services and black men in prostate cancer treatment.
• NEL Community Health Services.
• Update on the constitutional status of INEL and ONEL.
• Response on the takeover of Operose Practices.
• NHS Talking Therapies, for anxiety and depression programme Review (formerly known as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, IAPT).

Health Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a Health Update from Zina Etheridge, Chief Executive of NHS North East London. The update included:

• Organisational changes, including a national decision to reduce ICBs' running costs by 50% and the resulting restructure of the senior team. The executive management team now comprises:
  • Dr Paul Gilluley, Chief Clinical and Quality Commissioning Officer (CQCO)
  • Henry Black, Chief Finance Officer (CFO)
  • Charlotte Pomery, Chief Strategic Commissioning Officer (CSCO)
  • Ralph Coulbeck, Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)
• Strategic commissioning plans, including refreshing the ICB's overall strategy in light of the recently published NHS 10-year health plan and the draft NHS Planning Framework.
• The scope of the system strategy, including the Integrated Care Partnership's ambition to improve health, wellbeing, and equity in north east London.
• The ICB's commitment to building and strengthening local partnerships with local authorities, the voluntary sector, public health, and providers.
• Implementing the three shifts outlined in the NHS 10 Year Plan:
  • Moving care from hospital to community, including integrated neighbourhood working and an integrated pathway for women's health.
  • Moving from analogue to digital, including implementing an electronic patient record and promoting the NHS App.
  • Moving from sickness to prevention, including standardising secondary prevention and reducing health inequalities.
• Managing winter pressures, including collaboration with local authorities and mental health providers, system coordination, and supporting those most at risk.
• A review of the past three years, including improvements in population health, tackling inequalities, enhancing productivity, and supporting broader social and economic development.
• Provider updates from:
  • Lorraine Sunduza, Chief Executive Officer (ELFT), on North East London Collaboratives.
  • Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
  • Ann Hepworth, Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Barts Health NHS Trust, including their Your care, your call campaign and operational developments at St Bartholomew's Hospital, Newham Hospital, and Whipps Cross Hospital.
  • Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospital NHS Trust, including urgent and emergency care performance, reducing waiting lists, and cancer targets.

The Health Update also included a discussion of an open letter regarding NHS Talking Therapies in North East London. The Mental Health Action (MHA) group, part of the Socialist Health Association, had raised concerns about drop-out rates, meeting targets, independent audit and cost, types of therapy, duration of therapy, inequalities in access and outcomes, and community focus.

Finance Review

The committee was scheduled to receive a Finance Overview from Henry Black, Chief Finance Officer. The review included:

• The ICS month 4 (July) 2025/26 reported position, including the operating plan, efficiencies, and financial recovery plan.
• NEL ICS efficiencies, including a breakdown by provider.
• NEL ICS risks and mitigations, including risks to the delivery of the ICS breakeven position.

LGBTQ+ Health Services

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on LGBTQ+ Health Services from Dr Paul Gilluley, Chief Medical Officer. The report included information on:

• Gender dysphoria and gender identity.
• The Cass Report (Independent Review for Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People).
• North east London Gender Services for Children and Young People, including waiting lists and wait times.
• Treatment of children with gender dysphoria/incongruence, including restrictions on puberty blockers.
• Inclusion health and health inequalities experienced by the LGBTQ+ population.
• Pride in Practice in north east London.

Improving GP Access in North East London

The committee was scheduled to receive a report on Improving GP Access in North East London, including a case study from Addison Road Medical Practice (ARMP). The report covered:

• A programme of work undertaken across North East London to improve access to primary care and the patient experience.
• ARMP's journey to transform access to primary care, including their key success ingredients, challenges, and outcomes.
• Spreading good practice across North East London, including using data and patient feedback to understand variation in patient access and experience.