The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss a review of the Adult Learning Disability Service, receive an update on NHS Gloucestershire's 5 Year Strategy focusing on online, digital, and technology aspects, and review performance reports for the Gloucestershire Integrated Care System and the NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board. The committee was also due to consider its work plan for future meetings.

Adult Learning Disability Service Review

The committee was scheduled to consider the first phase of the Adult Learning Disability Service Review, which had been undertaken by the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with user groups, individuals with lived experience, and key stakeholders. The report outlined the current model of service provision, including the Community Learning Disability Teams (CLDT), the Learning Disabilities Intensive Support Service (LDISS), the Intensive Health Outreach Team (IHOT), and the Berkeley House Learning Disabilities Inpatient Unit. The review identified several challenges within the current system, including insufficient community capacity for escalating needs, families feeling unheard, poor transition from children's to adult services, and fragmented service navigation. The report also highlighted national policy alignment with the Transforming Care for Learning Disabilities initiative, which advocates for community-based care over long-term detention. The committee was asked to confirm an agreed approach for Phase 2 of the review, focusing on developing a community model of care and considering the best model for inpatients. This phase aims to complete the development of a sustainable NHS model for adult non-forensic learning disability health services in Gloucestershire, aligning with best practice and demographic growth. The proposed approach involves continued targeted involvement through co-production with service users, staff, and key stakeholders, rather than a wider public consultation.

NHS Gloucestershire 5 Year Strategy: Online, Digital and Technology

The committee was scheduled to receive the second of three presentations on the NHS Gloucestershire 5 Year Strategic Plan, focusing on the Online, Digital and Technology theme. This presentation aimed to outline how digital and technology can support safer, more joined-up care, faster access, and more efficient use of clinical time, aligning with the national 10 Year Health Plan's shift from analogue to digital. The report highlighted strong partnerships and a clear strategic direction in Gloucestershire, with digital underpinning neighbourhood care and prevention. Engagement with the public revealed interest in shared care records, virtual care, app access, and digital inclusion. Good practices such as the Joining Up Your Information (JUYI) shared care records and the Cinapsis platform for specialist input were noted. The report also discussed the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) and the growing use of the NHS App for managing prescriptions and appointments. A key challenge identified was digital inclusion, with barriers such as cost, skills, and confidence affecting access for some individuals. Gloucestershire's investment in community-based DigiHubs was presented as a good practice to address digital exclusion. The priority areas for development included a digital first, but never digital only approach, preserving choice, providing assisted digital support, simple service design, and working with partners. The overall aim is to use digital and technology to make care more joined-up, accessible, and efficient, while preserving choice and supporting inclusion.

Gloucestershire Integrated Care System (GICS) Performance Report

An update on the performance of the Gloucestershire Integrated Care System (GICS) against NHS constitutional and other agreed standards was scheduled for discussion. This report included a briefing on performance against national cancer waiting time standards and associated targets for Gloucestershire. It also provided an update on the Cancer Services Improvement Plan. Key performance indicators such as ambulance handover times, ambulance response times, and cancer wait time performance were to be reviewed. The report noted improvements in ambulance handover times but a deterioration in category 2 ambulance response times. While cancer wait time performance had declined slightly, urological prostate performance had risen. The report also mentioned the commencement of the Autumn COVID-19 booster programme.

NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB) Report

The committee was scheduled to receive a report from the NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB), providing updates from Integrated Care System (ICS) partners responsible for commissioning and providing NHS services in Gloucestershire. The report was to be presented in five sections: an overview of maternity services in Gloucestershire, temporary service changes, neonatal and maternal mortality reports, the national maternity and neonatal investigation, and the maternity health needs assessment. A significant focus was on the temporary suspension of home births due to safety concerns raised by staff, with an extension of this suspension for at least six months to allow for the co-design and implementation of a new model of care. The report detailed the reasons for the suspension, including staffing and skill mix challenges, the lack of consistent national guidance, and lessons learned from national safety reviews. Other updates included information on the new £5m GP surgery in Tetbury, the Community Neurological Service, and support for those with respiratory conditions closer to home. The report also highlighted the award of a CBE to Mary Hutton, former Chief Executive of NHS Gloucestershire ICB, for her contributions to community wellbeing, health, and care. The committee was to be updated on the progress of the Maternity Health Needs Assessment and the ongoing national maternity and neonatal investigation.

Work Plan

The committee was scheduled to review its work plan, noting the dates of future committee meetings and suggesting items for inclusion. An invitation to a joint meeting with the Adult Social Care and Communities Scrutiny Committee on 3 March 2026 was also to be discussed. The report provided details of forthcoming executive decisions by the County Council and information relating to the Council Strategy to assist members in proposing items for the work plan. Members were asked to consider the reasons for and expected benefits of committee involvement, as well as the appropriate category for agenda items (Overview, Scrutiny, or Information).