Agenda and minutes

To issue a welcome to those present, and to confirm if there are any apologies for absence.

None were received.

Members will be asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

The Chair asked members to declare any interests in proceedings for which there were none.

The minutes of the meeting of the Public Health and Health Integration Scrutiny Commission held on 30^th June 2026 have been circulated, and Members will be asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The Chair highlighted that the minutes from the meeting held on 30^th June 2026  were included in the agenda pack and asked Members to confirm whether they were an accurate record.  
 
AGREED:
 

• It was agreed that the minutes for the meeting on 30^th June 2026 were a correct record. 

The Chair is invited to make any announcements as they see fit.

No anouncements were made.

The Chair advised a change of item order which was requested by officers and approved by the Chair.

Any questions, representations and statements of case submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures will be reported.

It was noted that none had been received.  

Any petitions received in accordance with Council procedures will be reported.

It was noted that none had been received.  

The Director of Public Health will provide the Commission with a verbal update.

The Director of Public Health provided an update on health protection activity since the previous meeting. It was noted that:

• There had been no reported cases of salmonella in Leicester. Members heard that there had been 259 reported cases nationally, including one death.
• Investigations suggested that a number of cases may be linked to imported eggs and residents were encouraged to purchase eggs carrying the British Lion quality mark where possible.
• An increase in cases of viral meningitis had been reported and continued to be monitored through health protection arrangements.
• Work continued to promote vaccination uptake across different age groups.
• A local communications campaign was being developed to help parents, carers and schools better understand the childhood vaccination schedule and the ages at which vaccinations should be administered.
• National surveillance arrangements remained in place for seasonal flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
• Whilst the RSV vaccination programme had demonstrated positive benefits, uptake remained below desired levels.
• Current RSV vaccination uptake amongst pregnant women in Leicester was approximately 48%, compared with a national average of 62%.
• Uptake amongst older people was approximately 48%, compared with a national average of 68%.
• No new cases of measles had been reported since the previous update.
• Tuberculosis rates in Leicester remained amongst the highest in the country, however a decline in cases had been recorded during the first half of 2026.

In response to Members' questions, it was noted that:

• Members discussed the accessibility of vaccination records through the NHS App and highlighted the benefits of enabling parents, carers and young people to easily access and monitor vaccination histories.
• It was noted that access to vaccination information through the NHS App was dependent on arrangements within individual GP practices.
• Members considered that improved access to vaccination records could help remove barriers to vaccination uptake by making it easier for residents to identify missed vaccinations and access reliable information.
• Officers acknowledged the value of a consistent approach and agreed that improved digital access to vaccination records would support wider vaccination promotion efforts.

AGREED:

1.    The update on health protection activity be noted.

2.    The Governance Officer be requested to write to the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board, on behalf of the Chair and Lead Member, seeking support for improved access to vaccination records through the NHS App.

Healthwatch Leicester and Leicestershire submit their Annual Report, “Speaking up for Better Care” to the Commission.

Healthwatch Leicester and Leicestershire submitted their Annual Report, “Speaking up for Better Care” to the Commission.

The Chair of Healthwatch Leicester and Leicestershire provided an overview of the report. Key points to note were as follows:

• Healthwatch Leicester and Leicestershire was an independent structured consumer champion for Health and Social Care. The experiences, views and concerns of patients, residents, service users and the local community were heard and used to influence the planning, commissioning and delivery of health and care services across the city and county.
• During 2025, Healthwatch had engaged with over 46,000 people, receiving information on health experiences, also providing information and signposting.
• 38 enter and views had taken place, and a number of reports had been published.
• 8 GP practices within the Willow Group had been visited as requested by the ICB. Inconsistencies had been identified which resulted in commitments to improve.
• A survey review was planned to identify any underrepresented groups and encourage wider participation.
• 24 neighbourhood mental cafes had been visited, and referral pathways were being improved.
• Women’s health focus had included access to specialist support, continuity of care, better information and joined-up pathways.
• A review had been undertaken on supported living. Issues included communication, inclusion, health instability, social isolation and support and planning.
• A further significant area of focus was hospital discharge, experiences were gathered and issues identified around decision making, medication, follow up support, planning and communication.
• Work around access to healthcare for the deaf and hard of hearing community was revisited, significant barriers were found to remain around booking appointments, interpreters and receiving accessible information.
• For 2027, the three main areas of focus would include:
• Pharmacy First. A survey had gone live in July 2026 and there would be an inclusivity drive.
• Digital access to NHS services, particularly within Primary Care.
• Tackling health inequalities whilst strengthening partnerships.
• Young people’s experiences around healthy weight and lifestyles would be explored.
• 20 enter and views were planned throughout the year, to include same day access.

In response to Member questions and comments, the following was noted:

·       Survey findings were shared with relevant bodies, including the ICB, with follow-up reviews undertaken to assess progress. Where improvements were not evident, matters would be escalated.

·       Regarding patient feedback for The Willows, an improvement had been seen through the quality group, it was important to capture patient voices alongside metrics.

·       Concerns about GP practices were triangulated with the CQC and ICB, with findings reported to stakeholders and follow-up undertaken to monitor recommendations and escalate unresolved issues where necessary. Safeguarding issues were raised immediately.

·       A wider report could come back to the scrutiny commission in the future on wider practice issues.

·       Further communications were planned to promote the Mental Health Cafes. It was noted that utilisation had increased.

·       Conversations were ongoing with UHL and the ICB regarding digital access barriers, with a refresh of the digital strategy.

·       Addition support had come from the Local Authority to fund work on women’s health and a research project. Further information could be provided  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

The Integrated Care Board (ICB) will give the Commission a verbal update covering lessons learned from last winter and the process being undertaken to develop this year's winter plans, including the key areas of focus and progress to date.

The Chief Medical Officer for the LLR Integrated Care Board introduced the item and presented an update on winter planning and system preparedness across Leicester City for winter 2026/27.

It was noted that:

·       Winter planning formed part of a year-round approach to managing system pressures, with increasing challenges also being experienced during periods of extreme weather during the summer months.

·       Learning from previous years had resulted in improved resilience across the system, strengthened partnership working and clearer escalation arrangements when pressures arose.

·       The NHS 10-Year Plan emphasised a shift towards neighbourhood and community-based care, with a focus on prevention and reducing avoidable hospital admissions.

·       Pre-transfer clinical assessment services enabled patients to be assessed by UHL and LPT services where appropriate, helping to avoid unnecessary admissions.

·       Partnership working with local authorities, adult social care and home care providers remained a key component of winter planning arrangements.

·       Pathways such as Same Day Emergency Care, Pharmacy First and community response services continued to provide alternatives to Accident and Emergency attendance and hospital admission.

·       A single point of access remained an important element of the urgent care offer, helping patients access the most appropriate service first time.

·       Vaccination programmes remained a key priority, including flu and RSV vaccinations, with targeted outreach activity planned to support uptake, particularly within the city and amongst priority groups.

·       Additional investment had been made to support vaccination delivery and improve protection against respiratory illness during the winter period.

·       Improving access to mental health support and maintaining workforce resilience across the system remained priorities.

·       Community hospital beds, virtual wards and enhanced community services would continue to support patient flow and reduce pressure on acute services.

·       Demand and capacity modelling had been undertaken to assess likely activity levels and identify additional capacity requirements during the winter period.

·       Public communications activity would focus on improving awareness of available healthcare services and promoting vaccination uptake.

The Commission heard that system-wide planning arrangements had involved all health and care partners, including local authorities, to ensure organisational plans complemented one another and formed part of a single LLR winter plan.

It was further noted that:

• Governance and escalation arrangements had been reviewed in preparation for winter.
• Local and regional winter planning exercises would be undertaken to stress test arrangements and identify any remaining risks.
• Surge and escalation plans had been modelled against a range of scenarios, including levels of demand beyond those experienced during a typical winter period.
• No significant risks had been identified at the present time, although planning assumptions and resilience arrangements would continue to be tested through the forthcoming exercises.
• Additional capacity had been identified across acute, community and primary care services to support anticipated demand.

In response to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that:

• Members acknowledged that summer pressures were becoming increasingly significant and expressed disappointment that previous reporting had not included sufficient performance information and assurance measures.
• The Pharmacy First service was recognised as a positive development which had improved patient access to care and reduced pressure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

The Integrated Care Board (ICB) will provide the Commission with an update on the development of the Leicester City Neighbourhood Programme, including progress on neighbourhood footprint development, stakeholder engagement, and plans for the next phase of work. The report also highlights the potential implications of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The Commission is asked to note the progress made to date.

The Integrated Care Board (ICB) provided the Commission with an update on the development of the Leicester City Neighbourhood Programme, including progress on neighbourhood footprint development, stakeholder engagement, and plans for the next phase of work. The report also highlighted the potential implications of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). The Commission was asked to note the progress made to date. The report was taken as read, with an overview provided. Key points to note were as follows:

• The landscape was continuing to evolve towards greater provision of community-based care and preventative support.
• From the ICB perspective, progress had been slower in recent months due to organisational restructuring.
• Services would need to be transitioned safely, supported by workforce collaboration, community engagement and partnership working with the LA’s and the VCSE sector, alongside developments in care delivery, digital methods and vaccination programmes.
• It was noted that Local Government Reorganisation was likely to have an impact on outcomes.
• 4 delegated workshops had taken place with elected members attending.
• Key strategies included coordination of services, clear and simple pathways and digital focus.
• The 3 main focuses were: frailty, children and young people and wider premature mortality.
• Clinical assessment days had been piloted with a wider team of health care professionals available at Physiotherapy sessions.

In response to questions and comments from Members, it was noted that:

• Work was ongoing to strengthen data sharing between the partner organisations.
• Benefits of the neighbourhood strategy included the LUCID programme for chronic kidney disease, which would enable more patients to receive care closer to home and reduce the need to travel to hospital.
• Other areas which would benefit included mental health services. £8m of funding had been provided to develop weight management strategies.
• Further details on strategies for premature mortality and weight issues could come back to the scrutiny commission.
• The engagement events had been beneficial and had identified a number of key themes, which would be reflected in future commissioning arrangements.
• Opportunities to learn from other areas in the South-West on Frailty were noted.
• Planning would focus on a transference of care services, rather than a duplication of delivery.
• The strategy was not linked to a specific budget but was based on a pathway approach. Greater investment in prevention was needed, funding for new services could be shared across providers where appropriate.

AGREED:

1. That the report on the Leicester Neighbourhood Approach be noted.

Members of the Commission will be asked to consider the work programme and make suggestions for additional items as it considers necessary.

The Chair reminded Members that should there be any items they wish to be considered for the work programme then to share these with her and the senior governance officer.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 7.20pm