The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Monday 27 April 2026 to discuss significant updates on maternity and newborn services, and the cancer pathway. Key discussions included improvements in maternity care, the challenges and progress in cancer diagnosis and treatment, and the committee's work programme.

Maternity and Newborn Services (The First 100 Days)

The committee received an update on maternity and newborn services, highlighting significant improvements made by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT). Following a CQC inspection in October 2023, the service was rated as 'Good', a marked improvement since 2020. WAHT has successfully exited the NHS England Maternity Support Programme and is now monitored under the National Perinatal Quality Oversight Model. The Regional Maternity Heatmap shows a steady improvement in WAHT's performance, with a score in April 2026 reflecting decreases in perinatal mortality rates and successful recruitment of midwives.

Areas for improvement include addressing waiting times in triage, enhancing communication around induction of labour, and ensuring women are fully aware of their birthplace options, including home births. Following a review, the home birth service will now be delivered by five smaller Continuity of Carer Teams to ensure sustainability and focused training for a smaller cohort of midwives. Recruitment of midwifery care assistants remains a challenge due to lower salaries and limited clinical contact.

Public Health services are collaborating with WAHT to improve outcomes for pregnant women. Significant progress has been made in reducing smoking rates at the time of birth to 4%, with a new Smokefree Pregnancy Incentive Scheme introduced. A pilot service for pregnant women with a raised BMI, Blooming Healthy, has been successful and will be expanded with lifestyle coaches. The infant feeding team, comprising three lactation consultants, is working towards achieving 'Gold' accreditation in the UNICEF Baby Friendly programme. Vaccination uptake for Flu, RSV, and Pertussis is being addressed through ongoing work with primary care partners.

The committee was also updated on national reviews, including the interim report from Baroness Amos' Independent Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services. WAHT has completed all recommendations from the Ockenden reports and the Single Delivery Plan.

Update on Cancer Pathway

The committee received an update on the cancer pathway, focusing on prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. The National Cancer Plan for England, published in February 2026, aligns with local strategies, emphasising earlier diagnosis and personalised care to improve survival rates. A key target is to diagnose 75% of cancers at stages I and II by 2028, with current rates at approximately 55%.

Initiatives to promote early diagnosis include public awareness campaigns, the FIT@80 bowel cancer screening programme which has increased early diagnosis rates to 69%, and the development of an interactive map to identify areas with high rates of late-stage cancer diagnosis, leading to targeted engagement events in Worcester City and Redditch for lung cancer symptoms. A pilot for early pancreatic cancer case finding has been implemented, referring patients over 60 with new-onset diabetes or unexplained weight loss for urgent CT scans. A breast pain pathway has been introduced to ensure timely assessment, and new pathways for post-menopausal bleeding and liver surveillance are being implemented.

The Lung Cancer Screening Programme is set to commence by March 2027, targeting high-risk populations. A Non-Specific Symptoms pathway will be implemented by June 2026 to expedite diagnosis for patients with vague symptoms. Screening programme updates include new functionality for trans men and non-binary individuals in cervical screening invitations and targeted engagement with seasonal workforces for breast screening. Workforce constraints, particularly in breast screening, and improving coverage and equity remain key risks.

Performance against national Cancer Waiting Time standards has improved, with the 62-day referral to treatment standard now at 73%. WAHT is expanding diagnostic capacity, planning an additional Community Diagnostic Centre, and exploring local PET-CT provision. Dermatology services have been strengthened with new staff and the introduction of teledermatology and one-stop clinics. Urology and breast services are implementing long-term sustainability plans to manage increased referral volumes.

The Living with and beyond cancer programme is a priority, offering Personalised Stratified Follow-Up pathways, health and wellbeing events, and support groups. The Cancer Services App has over 1000 downloads and provides trusted information. The HOPE (Help Overcome Problems Effectively) course is being expanded, and Cancer Champion training is being delivered to the South Asian community.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed its 2025/26 Work Programme. For the June meeting, topics will include urgent patient flow, including virtual wards and the West Midlands Ambulance Service, and neighbourhood health and its impact on long-term conditions. Future items for consideration include end-of-life care, frailty, routine immunisation, and planning for winter. The committee also noted potential future items such as adult mental health rehabilitation, community paediatric services, and updates on stroke and eye services.

The committee resolved to:

• Receive feedback from the Pancreatic Support Group for Councillor Christine Wild.
• The ICB to check its policy on advising patients to bring a loved one to cancer appointments.
• Chris Douglas to add a robotic strategy to the work programme.
• The ICB to remind primary care colleagues that in Worcestershire, referrals for PSA levels are at a lower threshold than NICE guidelines.
• Members to advise the Director of Public Health of any cancer community support groups, particularly those supporting young people.
• Members to promote the Cancer Services App to their residents.
• The Director of Public Health to consider, in consultation with the ICB, how support can be provided to children and young people when a loved one is going through a cancer journey.