Here is a summary of the scheduled discussions for the Healthier Communities and Older People Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting on 20 November 2025. The agenda included the first round of budget and business plan discussions, a report on the Care Quality Commission's findings at St George's Hospital, and an annual safeguarding report. Also on the agenda was the Health and Wellbeing Board report, and a review of the panel's work programme.

Budget and Business Plan

The panel was scheduled to discuss the Budget for 2026/27 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2026-30.

The report pack included a covering report, and also the report that was presented to the Cabinet on 20 October 2025. The Cabinet report detailed the latest MTFS position and progress towards achieving a balanced budget. It noted that the MTFS gap was revised to:

The report stated that since the report to Cabinet in September, there had been further updates to areas that have implications for the MTFS 2026-39, including pay and price inflation, and provision for excess inflation. It noted that based on expenditure for the first quarter (three months to June), there was a forecast net adverse variance of £6.5m, and that the main pressures were in Children's Social Care and Youth Inclusion, and Housing Temporary Accommodation/Homelessness. The report also included details of draft savings proposals, and draft Equalities Impact Assessments for each saving.

The covering report asked the Panels to consider the draft savings proposals and associated draft equalities analyses set out in the report to Cabinet, and for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider the comments of the Panels and provide a response to Cabinet when it meets on 15 December 2025.

The report included details of draft departmental savings proposals for:

• Finance & Digital
• Housing and Sustainable Development
• Environment, Civic Pride and Climate
• Children, Lifelong Learning and Families
• Adult Social Care, Integrated Care and Public Health

St George's Hospital CQC Report

The panel was scheduled to receive a report on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust¹. The report pack included a presentation from Kate Slemeck, Managing Director Trust, which noted that a CQC inspection published in August confirmed services at St George's are rated as 'Requires Improvement'. The presentation stated that improvements included doubling the size of the Same Day Emergency Care service, and improved processes for reporting where things have not gone to plan. It also noted that an options appraisal was currently being developed for the Carmen Birthing Centre², which will undergo staff consultation in September. The presentation also covered key findings from a CQC leadership inspection, which rated leadership at the Trust as 'Requires Improvement'. It noted that the CQC had found great partnership working , and that the trust had a dedicated research and innovation team, involved in over 300 clinical trials to improve people's healthcare. The presentation stated that the Trust had taken immediate actions to strengthen support for staff and tackle a blame culture, and that a new 'inclusive health board' will strengthen the diversity of leadership at a senior level. Finally, the presentation noted that the Trust will consult with porters, cleaners, catering and patient transport teams at ESTH³ on proposals to move towards NHS Agenda for Change pay and benefits within two years (April 2026-April 2028).

Annual Safeguarding Report

The panel was scheduled to receive the Annual Safeguarding Report. The report pack included a covering report, and also the Merton Safeguarding Adults Board (MSAB) Annual Report 2024-25.

The covering report noted that the MSAB Annual Report would be discussed at the Health and Wellbeing Board in November 2025.

Adult Social Care and Public Health Performance

The panel was scheduled to discuss the Adult Social Care, Integrated Care & Public Health Performance Report 2024-25.

The report provided an overview of how Adult Social Care and Public Health services in Merton supported residents throughout the financial year 2024–25, drawing on national and local datasets, including Client Level Data (CLD), the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework (ASCOF), Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF), The Merton Story, and Health and Wellbeing Strategy indicators.

The report noted that Adult Social Care in Merton continues to focus on delivering responsive, effective, and person-centred support aligned with the needs of residents, including carers, younger adults, and older people, and that Public Health ensures robust systems are in place to protect residents from communicable diseases and environmental health risks.

The report also included a summary of Equalities Impact Assessments for savings to cabinet in October 2025.

Report of the Health and Wellbeing Board

The panel was scheduled to note the report of the Health and Wellbeing Board for 2024-2025.

The report set out key aspects of the work of the Merton Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) in 2024 and 2025 to date, and provided details of the Merton Health and Wellbeing Strategy (HWS) 2025-2030 which was approved in March 2025, and highlighted some of the progress and actions taken to date.

The report noted that the new strategy focuses on reducing health inequalities and is underpinned by a 'Marmot approach' in recognition that 80% of the factors that impact health are social and economic factors, rather than just health and care services.

The HWS priorities are:

• Start strong
• Focus on prevention
• Strong communities
• Healthy places
• Joined-up services

The report also provided an update on the published Merton Story 2024/25 and the recently published Merton Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, which is one of the statutory duties of the HWB.

Work Programme

The panel was scheduled to review its work programme for 2025/26.