The Children, Families, Health and Care Select Committee of Hillingdon Council met on Tuesday 21 July 2026 to discuss the Hillingdon Advice Partnership (HAP) update and the scoping report for a review into Pharmacies and Pharmacy First. The committee also reviewed the Cabinet Forward Plan and discussed its work programme.

Hillingdon Advice Partnership Update

The committee received an update on the Hillingdon Advice Partnership (HAP), a service providing advice and information to residents aged 18 and over. Julian Lloyd, Chief Executive of Age UK Hillingdon, Harrow and Brent, and lead partner for HAP, explained that the service aims to support resident resilience and self-sufficiency, moving away from models that could foster dependence. HAP is a partnership of four organisations: Age UK Hillingdon, Harrow and Brent; Nucleus Legal Advice; Bell Farm; and Dash.

Key highlights from the first nine months of HAP's operation included a steady growth in referrals, with a good spread across age groups and ethnicities, reflecting the borough's demographics. The service operates with a single brand and a single point of access, with staff working as a unified team. Face-to-face support is offered in West Drayton, Hayes, Ruislip, and Uxbridge, with plans to expand to Harefield and Heathrow villages.

Challenges identified include managing increasing demand with finite resources, the need for a more sophisticated phone system, and difficulties with volunteer recruitment and retention. The service is also seeing a rise in housing and debt inquiries, likely due to the current economic climate.

Members raised questions about the cost-avoidance figures presented, with Gary Collier, Health and Social Care Integration Manager, requesting further detail on how the estimated £1.1 to £1.2 million in health and social care cost avoidance was achieved. Julian Lloyd clarified that these were preventative calculations based on national tools, estimating potential costs that would have been incurred had HAP's interventions not taken place, rather than actual savings to the council.

Councillor Anil Taneja asked about identifying residents early, particularly those already in crisis. Julian Lloyd noted that while HAP is an open-access service, they are seeing increasing referrals from social prescribers within primary care, indicating that some early identification is occurring.

Councillor Jan Sweeting raised concerns about capacity issues due to increased demand and complexity of cases, to which Julian Lloyd responded that while the service can be stretched, they actively seek additional funding and explore opportunities with the NHS.

The committee also discussed the potential use of council hubs for face-to-face services and the challenges of inter-agency communication. Julian Lloyd highlighted the difficulty in getting timely responses from some council departments, though he acknowledged that a formal mechanism for escalating issues exists and that Sandra Taylor's team has been receptive.

Councillor Hedson Farinha De Castro inquired about demonstrating value for money and the evidence supporting cost avoidance claims. Julian Lloyd reiterated that the figures are preventative estimations.

Regarding awareness of HAP, Julian Lloyd explained that promotion occurs through Hillingdon People, the council website, and their own website, as well as through existing relationships with organisations like Age UK and Citizens Advice.

Councillor Jane Palmer asked about drug-related issues, and Julian Lloyd confirmed that while not a drug expert charity, HAP does encounter these issues, particularly in relation to debt, and would signpost individuals to appropriate resources. He also noted that drug and alcohol misuse is becoming a bigger problem in other boroughs they work in.

The committee also discussed the use of AI within the service, with Julian Lloyd mentioning the adoption of automated functions within Salesforce, including quick text and Microsoft Co-pilot for note-taking and transcription to improve efficiency.

Pharmacies and Pharmacy First Scoping Report

Nicky O'Halloran, Democratic, Civic and Ceremonial Manager, presented a scoping report for a major review into Pharmacies and Pharmacy First. The committee discussed proposed amendments to the report, with Councillor Jan Sweeting expressing concern that subtle wording changes might dilute the robustness of the review. Councillor John Garner and Councillor Jane Palmer reassured that the committee was committed to a thorough review.

Councillor Sweeting proposed that the terms of reference should include a map of the borough with pharmacies plotted, overlaid with population statistics, and that witnesses should be drawn from all areas of the borough to ensure diverse representation. Councillor Garner supported this, highlighting the importance of identifying pinch points in provision. Nicky O'Halloran confirmed that she had been in contact with Healthwatch Hillingdon and that Samreen from Healthwatch, along with patients and residents, could be involved in the first witness session on 13 October. The committee agreed to note the amendments and approve the scoping report.

Cabinet Forward Plan

The committee noted the Cabinet Forward Plan. Councillor Jan Sweeting raised a question about whether certain items were now going directly to Cabinet without first being presented to the committee. Nikki O'Halloran clarified that not all Cabinet items come to the committee due to time constraints but encouraged members to request specific items for consideration. Councillor Gohil highlighted the Cabinet's consideration of a final report from the former Health and Social Care Select Committee on early intervention and prevention, thanking Councillor Nick Denys for his work as chair of that committee.

Work Programme

The committee discussed its work programme for the municipal year. It was agreed that a major review of Pharmacies and Pharmacy First would be undertaken, with witness sessions scheduled for October, November, and January. Nicky O'Halloran would draft scoping reports for potential minor reviews into child immunisations and the London Ambulance Service. Councillor Sweeting requested an information item on the borough-wide youth offer, noting outstanding issues from a previous report, which was agreed.