The Inner North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 14 January 2026. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on the future of Richard House Children's Hospice, a general health update, and a financial overview from NHS North East London. Additionally, the committee will consider a scrutiny report.

Richard House Children's Hospice

A report is scheduled to be presented regarding the closure of Richard House Children's Hospice. The Trustees of the hospice made the decision to close and enter administration on 7 December, with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) being notified on 18 December. The ICB has been working with Haven House Children's Hospice to support families affected by the closure. A detailed transition plan has been agreed with Haven House, which includes continued 24/7 end-of-life nursing care, on-site respite, counselling, and support for bereaved families. Hospice at Home services are also planned to be provided to all Richard House families from 1 April 2026. The report notes that while a group of parents is keen to reinstate services, the administration process is underway, making reversal almost impossible. The priority is to ensure the safe transfer of families and establish a sustainable model for children's hospice provision in north east London, with new commissioning arrangements expected from 1 April 2027.

Health Update

A comprehensive health update is scheduled, covering various aspects of healthcare provision within North East London. This includes updates on provider performance, organisational changes within the NHS North East London ICB, and the ongoing NHS 10 Year Plan. The report will also address planning and priorities for managing winter pressures, detailing a coordinated system response, strengthened community care, and mental health crisis response. The impact of industrial action by resident doctors is also noted, alongside achievements such as the London Personalised Care Awards and the launch of the North East London Population Health Management Platform. The update will also include reports from the North East London Collaborative, covering Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism, and Community Healthcare. Specifics on intensive and assertive community mental health care, planning for 2025-26, and partnership working between Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust (BHRUT) and North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) are also on the agenda. Updates from Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Barts Health NHS Trust are also expected.

Finance Overview

The committee is set to receive a finance overview from Henry Black, Chief Finance Officer for NHS North East London. The report details the Integrated Care System's (ICS) financial position at Month 7 (October) of the 2025-26 financial year. It highlights a significant adverse variance to the operating plan, with a year-to-date deficit of £69.8 million, an increase of £41.8 million against the planned figure. The report attributes this variance primarily to providers, with the exception of the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), which is reporting a surplus, and the ICB itself. The overview also addresses NEL ICS efficiencies, noting a shortfall against the planned delivery of £16.2 million at month 7, with a forecast year-end slippage of £22.5 million. Key pressures identified include efficiency slippage and run rate pressures across pay and non-pay areas, particularly within mental health, learning disability, and autism services. The report also mentions the loss of £14 million in deficit support funding from NHS England for months 4 to 7 due to the current financial position.

Scrutiny Report

A scrutiny report from the Town Clerk is scheduled for discussion. This report is the second for the municipal year and will invite members to review the Forward Plan for the 2025-26 cycle. Members will have the opportunity to make suggestions for items to be considered for inclusion in future meetings. The report itself has no direct strategic, financial, resource, legal, risk, equalities, climate, or security implications. The committee is invited to note the report and appendices and to propose items for the Forward Plan.