The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Integrated Care Board, discuss common neurological conditions, and review its work programme. The meeting was to be chaired by Councillor Karen May, Chair of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Integrated Care Board Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update from the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (HWICB) regarding national reforms affecting Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). The report outlined the background to these reforms, including the requirement for significant reductions in ICB running costs, the key elements of NHS England's (NHSE) Model ICB Blueprint, and the forthcoming 10-Year Health Plan. It also detailed the progress made locally on developing a clustering arrangement between HWICB and NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB (CWICB). The report stated that the HWICB is responsible for planning, commissioning, and overseeing NHS services for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, allocating resources, and setting local health priorities. The national reform programme aims to create a more strategic, efficient, and outcomes-focused system. The clustering arrangement, which involves HWICB and CWICB working together, is intended to achieve required cost reductions and strengthen strategic commissioning capabilities, while maintaining local focus and accountability.

Overview of Common Neurological Conditions

The committee was scheduled to consider an overview of common neurological conditions, with a particular focus on Parkinson's disease and dementia. The report indicated that neurological conditions affect a wide range of people, with estimates suggesting as many as one in six people in the UK live with such a condition. In Worcestershire, it was estimated that approximately 1,300 people live with Parkinson's and over 9,000 people live with dementia. The report detailed the care pathways for Parkinson's, including diagnosis, medication, and therapies, and outlined the roles of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT) and the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust (HWHCT) in providing care. For dementia, the report described the Early Intervention Dementia Services (EIDS), Older Adult Community Mental Health Teams (OACMHT), Admiral Nurses, Hospital at Home Team, and specialist inpatient wards. The report also touched upon transformation and commissioning efforts for both Parkinson's and dementia care, including the development of a revised ICB Dementia Strategy and the creation of an online tool called the Dementia Roadmap.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to review its work programme for 2025/26. The report indicated that the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) is responsible for scrutinising local NHS bodies and health services. The work programme, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, was part of the Council's rolling Annual Scrutiny Work Programme, which had been discussed by the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board (OSPB) and agreed by the Council. The committee was to consider the 2025/26 Work Programme and decide if any amendments were necessary, while retaining the flexibility to address urgent issues that might arise. The work programme listed several upcoming items for scrutiny, including updates on access to GP appointments, dental services, and the West Midlands Ambulance Service, as well as annual reviews of public health and potential future items such as maternity and newborn services, and end-of-life care.