The Health Scrutiny Committee of Derbyshire Council met on Monday 23 March 2026 to discuss integrated neighbourhood health services, palliative and end-of-life care, and the impact of screen time on children and young people's mental health. The committee also received an update on views regarding smoking from the people of Derby City and Derbyshire, and reviewed its future work programme.

Integrated Neighbourhood Health Services

The committee was scheduled to receive an update from the Integrated Care Board (ICB) on national policy direction and local progress in developing neighbourhood health services across Derbyshire. This initiative is a key component of the Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Strategy, aiming to shift healthcare delivery closer to communities. The report was expected to outline how the updated Better Care Fund guidance for 2026/27 will support neighbourhood integration through joint commissioning and shared outcome frameworks. It was also anticipated that the Health and Wellbeing Board would be playing a strengthened system leadership role in developing Neighbourhood Health Plans. The report was to highlight progress made through partnerships between NHS organisations, local authorities, and voluntary sector partners, including the Team Up model, which has been recognised nationally for its effectiveness in providing integrated care for individuals with complex needs. Additionally, the committee was to be informed about support secured from the Local Government Association to enhance the Health and Wellbeing Board's oversight and delivery capabilities, as well as to note the principal system-level delivery risks associated with neighbourhood transformation and the governance arrangements in place to manage them.

Palliative and End of Life Care

An update was scheduled on the work underway to develop and deliver the Derby and Derbyshire ICB Palliative End of Life Care (PEoLC) Strategy. The report was to detail how the ICB is fulfilling its legal duty under the Health and Care Act 2022 to commission palliative care services. It was also to explain how the strategy aligns with national frameworks, including the NHS 10 Year Health Plan's emphasis on shifting healthcare out of hospitals and into communities, and the Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care framework. The committee was to be assured that steps are being taken to deliver against nationally and locally identified PEoLC priorities. The report was expected to highlight local developments such as a system-wide PEoLC data dashboard, the adoption of Digital ReSPECT, and a comprehensive education and training plan for the system workforce. Furthermore, the committee was to be informed about a joint Palliative and End of Life Care Health Needs Assessment planned for 2026/27, which aims to address significant health inequalities and variations in service provision across the system, particularly in areas of deprivation.

Screentime for Children and Young People's Mental Health

The committee was scheduled to review developing evidence and guidance on the effects of screen time on children and young people's mental health, outlining both the benefits and challenges. The report was to note that screen use, including on smartphones and tablets, begins at a very young age, with significant increases in online time reported between 2009 and 2018. Benefits of screen time were to be discussed, such as sustaining friendships through social media and online gaming, and its use for education and communication for children with special educational needs. Conversely, challenges were to be addressed, including the risks of sedentary lifestyles, digital eye strain, and exposure to online harms such as cyberbullying and inappropriate content. The report was to reference findings from the UK Chief Medical Officers and the Education Committee, which have indicated an association between screen time and mental health problems, with harms potentially outweighing benefits for very young children. National updates were to be presented, including government consultations on children's social media use, the proposed banning of phones in schools, and the development of new screen time guidance for children under five and for parents of children aged 5 to 16. Local actions were also to be detailed, including work by the Derby and Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership on online safety and the Whole School Approach commissioned by Public Health, which supports schools in promoting positive mental wellbeing and media literacy.

Healthwatch Derbyshire - Views on Smoking

The committee was scheduled to receive a presentation of the views on smoking from the people of Derby City and Derbyshire, collected by Healthwatch Derbyshire between October and December 2025. The report was to summarise findings from 167 survey responses, four community engagement events, and three interviews. Key findings were expected to include limited awareness of the Smokefree Derby and Derbyshire initiative and its associated stop smoking services, with a common assumption that quitting support and nicotine replacement products would incur costs. The report was to highlight that most smokers surveyed wished to quit, with GPs and the NHS website being the most trusted sources for information. Motivations for quitting were noted to include improving physical health and saving money, with a notable finding being the increasing importance of mental health as a reason to stop smoking, differing from previous reports. The report was to also discuss barriers to accessing support, such as fear of judgement, the need for flexible options, and misconceptions about vaping. Recommendations were to be presented for improving communications, public messaging, stop smoking service delivery, and community engagement.

Work Programme

The committee was to consider its current and proposed future items for the work programme. A document outlining potential topics for future meetings was to be presented, including discussions on the Child Death Overview Panel Annual Report, DCHS Quality Account Reports, and an update from Active Partners Trust on encouraging healthy lifestyles. Future topics also included a progress update on Stroke Rehabilitation, the Food Plan for Derbyshire, and discussions on Dementia Strategy, Healthwatch Derbyshire activities, Asbestos, Mental Health Crisis Support, and Long COVID.