The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee convened to discuss several critical issues impacting the health and wellbeing of Cornwall residents, including mental health services, suicide prevention, the implications of the NHS 10-year plan, and changes to eye clinic services. The committee approved recommendations related to each of these topics, aiming to improve service delivery and address key challenges. Additionally, the committee reviewed and approved the minutes from the previous meeting and discussed the committee's work programme for the upcoming year.

Healthwatch Cornwall - Mental Health - Issues report

The committee scrutinised the Healthwatch Cornwall report, Cornish Communities in Focus. Evolving Voices in Mental Health, which highlighted key issues in local mental health services based on feedback from 514 residents¹. The report identified severe workforce shortages, excessive waiting times, barriers to specialist care, rural and coastal health inequalities, out-of-county placements, funding and service fragmentation, and limited treatment options.

Key recommendations from the report included:

• Maximising the existing workforce through group support sessions and training for non-clinical staff.
• Reducing waiting times by building on while-you-wait support systems.
• Improving rural access using community resources and expanding online support.
• Strengthening crisis support and expanding treatment options.
• Simplifying access to services and making mental health care more inclusive.
• Reducing out-of-county placements and strengthening community resources.

The committee was assured that system partners were working to address the issues and recommendations in the report. The committee also agreed to consider the issues raised in the report when developing a future mental health strategy for Cornwall, adopting a whole life course approach to mental health.

A collaborative approach to mental health and wellbeing promotion and prevention of 'deaths of despair'

The committee reviewed a report on a collaborative approach to mental health and wellbeing promotion and prevention of 'deaths of despair'. The report highlighted the need for continued public mental health and suicide prevention efforts across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It provided an update on the suicide prevention strategy and proposed several recommendations, including completing outstanding actions from the strategy, strengthening support for the VCSE² offer, developing tailored interventions, promoting inclusive approaches, investing in workforce development, and fostering system-wide collaboration.

The committee recognised the progress made and ongoing challenges in delivering the suicide prevention strategy and supported the recommendations set out in the report. The committee also agreed to provide input and feedback on the next strategy when it is presented in draft form at a future meeting.

Implications of the 10-year NHS Plan on the Operating Plan

The committee considered a report on the implications of the NHS 10-Year Plan on the Operating Plan. The report provided an overview of the NHS 10-Year Plan and its key elements, including the three strategic shifts: hospital to community, sickness to prevention, and analogue to digital. The report also outlined the work already underway across Cornwall that supports the NHS 10-Year Plan.

The committee noted the three shifts set out in the 10-Year Plan and the progress already being made towards these. They also noted that ICBs are being asked to produce 5-year plans from 2026/27 instead of a one-year operating plan, allowing for a more strategic approach. The committee provided feedback to inform developing plans.

Repatriation of Services – Eye Clinics

The committee reviewed a report on the repatriation of services from subcontracted providers back to the Royal Cornwall Hospital (RCH) in Truro. The report summarised the intended repatriation of services, the initial notice and subsequent revocation of notice for dermatology and ophthalmology services, and the outcome that Meneage Street could not accept the revocation of notice. The report also detailed the communication to patients and stakeholders and the immediate actions taken, as well as the lessons learned from this process.

The committee received and noted the report.

Committee Work Programme 2025-26 - Mid Year Review

The committee conducted a mid-year review of its work programme for 2025-26, using the tools set out in the Overview and Scrutiny Protocol. The work programme identifies, prioritises, conducts, and reviews the committee's work, ensuring effective use of resources.

The committee agreed that no changes be made to the committee's work programme at this time. They also agreed that amendments to the Committee Work Programme be determined by the Chairman of the Committee, in consultation with the Vice-Chairman, the Senior Responsible Officer and the Democratic Services Lead, with any changes to be given effect by the Senior Responsible Officer and the Committee to be notified as soon as any changes are approved.

Questions from Members to Cabinet Members on their updates

The committee received updates from Councillor Hilary Frank, Portfolio Holder for Children, Families and Schools, and Councillor Thalia Marrington, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Public Health and Deputy Group Leader - Liberal Democrat Group.

Councillor Thalia Marrington reported that following the recommendation from the last meeting, she had written a letter to the Secretary of State urging him to include dental services explicitly within the Fairer Funding Review, recognising the additional costs and complexities of delivering equitable access in rural and dispersed areas such as Cornwall, and to undertake a comprehensive review of the current NHS dental contract, to introduce a model that incentivises prevention, supports workforce sustainability, and addresses regional disparities in provision.

There were no questions to the Cabinet Members.

Public Questions

The committee considered questions submitted by members of the public.

Any Other Business that the Chairman Considers to be of Urgency

The committee considered any other business that the Chairman considers to be of urgency.