The Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire met to discuss cancer care services, the Lincolnshire Integrated Care System's Winter Plan for 2025/26, and the committee's future work programme.

Cancer Care in Lincolnshire

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on cancer services and the Living with Cancer programme in Lincolnshire from the NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB). This report outlined how local priorities align with national direction, particularly the Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan, which focuses on moving care closer to home, prevention and early detection, and digitally enabled pathways. The ICB's blueprint for cancer care, developed as part of a clustering arrangement with Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire ICBs, aims for a single system plan with clear ownership and faster, more consistent pathways.

The report detailed current performance against national cancer waiting time standards: the 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS), the 62-day standard (from urgent referral to first definitive treatment), and the 31-day standard (from decision to treat to first treatment). It highlighted performance data for United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (ULTH), North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (NWAFT), and North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG), noting areas of pressure and ongoing improvement work. Specific pathway improvements in urology, colorectal, and gynaecology were detailed, alongside plans for Lung Cancer Screening and broader early diagnosis initiatives. The Living with Cancer programme aims to develop person-centred local support, with strategies for acute care, interface programmes (like the Sleep Project and Psycho-Oncology), community development, and digital support. The report also addressed challenges such as rurality, an ageing population, health inequalities, diagnostic pinch points, workforce shortages, and financial pressures.

Lincolnshire Integrated Care System Winter Plan 2025/26

The committee was invited to consider the Lincolnshire Integrated Care System (ICS) Winter Plan for 2025/26. This plan, developed collaboratively and influenced by national guidance and learning from previous winters, aims to manage anticipated urgent care and patient flow pressures. The plan highlights local assumptions for winter and outlines a planned response, supplementing ongoing improvements in urgent care in line with the National Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan. Key areas of risk identified include waits in community settings, Emergency Departments, and Urgent Treatment Centres, as well as ambulance handover delays and discharge delays. The plan also addresses service fragility on the East Coast and in the Boston area, the impact of industrial action, and workforce changes.

Preparation for winter included capacity and demand reviews, analysis of infectious disease trends, and workforce planning. The plan detailed a multi-faceted approach to vaccination programmes for staff, clinical at-risk groups, and respiratory health. It outlined strategies for primary and community care, including attendance and admission avoidance initiatives, and the utilisation of services like Urgent Community Response (UCR) and Virtual Wards. Mental health services, including the Mental Health Urgent Assessment Centre and crisis support, were also detailed. Plans for Children and Young People's services focused on reducing unnecessary Emergency Department attendances. Hospital care and discharge planning emphasised timely patient flow, with a focus on Discharge to Assess (D2A) principles and the introduction of systems like Optica. Infection Prevention and Control measures, alongside a robust risk management framework, were also outlined. The plan detailed system working and escalation procedures, including the role of the System Co-ordination Centre and the use of Operational Pressure Escalation Levels (OPEL). A comprehensive communication plan was also presented, aiming to raise awareness of available services and encourage the use of the right care pathways.

Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire - Work Programme

The committee was invited to consider and comment on its forthcoming work programme. The report outlined confirmed items of business for future meetings, including updates on NHS dental services, GP practice services, the Lincolnshire System Workforce, and introductory items from Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust. It also detailed planned discussions on Community Mental Health Hubs, Non-Emergency Patient Transport, Neighbourhood Health, planning for emergencies, and the Director of Public Health's annual report. Items identified for future programming included community pharmacy and prescription medicine availability, the Stamford Health Engagement Exercise, the Humber Acute Services Review, transport and travel reviews, ICB clustering arrangements, stroke services at ULHT, the East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme, and NHS planning for demographic changes. The report also noted the committee's role in responding to NHS consultations.