This meeting was about the merger of two local NHS Trusts and the North Central London Integrated Care Board's (ICB) strategy for its buildings and other infrastructure. It also included reports on the ICB's work programme for the coming year and confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting.

Merger of North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

This was scheduled to be the second time that the committee had received an update on the proposed merger of the North Middlesex University Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital. The report pack contains a report from the two Trusts, which states that the full business case for the merger was completed and approved in July 2024 and submitted to NHS England. It goes on to say that it expects the merger to be complete by 1 January 2025, subject to approval from NHS England and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

The report says that patients will continue to be referred to their usual local hospitals and that the same services will be provided at each site. In particular, the Accident and Emergency department, maternity services, intensive care unit, paediatrics, acute surgery, acute medicine and community services at North Middlesex University Hospital would not be affected.

The report sets out the potential benefits of the merger for patients, staff, and local communities:

For patients:

• we can go further and faster in providing better, more sustainable and equitable services, including working together beyond our hospitals and organisational boundaries. • faster reduction in waiting times through combining and sharing resources to treat more patients. • more specialist care locally and more joined up community services supported through a single electronic patient record. • increased opportunities for patients regardless of location or background to participate in research and trials of new clinical treatments.

The Trusts identified four clinical services to be prioritised for early integration following the merger:

• Cancer
• Research and development
• Colorectal surgery
• Surgical hubs

The report pack contains detailed information on how each of these services would be integrated and the potential benefits for patients and staff.

NCL Estates and Infrastructure Strategy 2024

The report pack contains the ICB's Estates and Infrastructure Strategy, which is described as a stocktake of where we are as an organisation, recognising where we are in our evolution and where we have further progress to make.

It includes information on:

• Investment: The ICB is set to invest 10% of its capital budget on strategic infrastructure schemes, and 5% on local care schemes. This includes £22.5 million in 2024/25, and a total of £148.8 million between 2024/25 and 2029/30 on strategic schemes. It also includes £89.1 million between 2024/25 and 2033/34 on local care schemes. Further funding for local care schemes will be sought from local authorities, landlords, and GPs.
• New buildings: A number of new health centres have opened in recent years, including new mental health inpatient facilities at Highgate East, a new community mental health centre in Lowther Road, and a new mental health crisis unit at Highgate West. It also includes information on the progress of the redevelopment of St Pancras Hospital.
• Integrated care: The strategy highlights the importance of integrated care, and how the ICB will work with local authorities and other partners to deliver services in a more joined-up way.
• Sustainability: The strategy acknowledges the need to reduce the carbon footprint of the NHS, and that the ICB will need to work with partners to achieve this.

North London Mental Health Partnership

The report pack contains a presentation about the proposed merger of Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust and Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust, which is described as a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver exemplar mental healthcare in North London.

The presentation says that the merger will allow the new Trust to:

• Provide care as close to home as possible
• Respond to the growing and ageing population of North Central London
• Maintain 24/7 services
• Improve performance
• Address workforce challenges
• Be a stronger, single voice for mental health

It also highlights the potential benefits of the merger for patients, staff, and local communities.

Work Programme 2024-2025

The report pack contains the ICB's work programme for 2024/25. It lists the topics that are already scheduled to be discussed at future meetings, as well as other topics that the committee has previously indicated it wishes to receive further updates on.

Topics scheduled for discussion at future meetings include:

• The collaborative relationship between the Whittington Health NHS Trust and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
• A finance update
• Winter planning
• Workforce issues
• The St Pancras Hospital Transformation Programme
• A community-based meeting

Other topics that the committee wishes to receive updates on include:

• The Health Inequalities Fund
• Smoking cessation and vaping
• The strategic role of GP Federations
• Vaccination initiatives
• Paediatric services
• The commissioning of primary care and the role of private corporations in that sector
• Online GP consultations
• The increase in charges for NHS services, such as dentistry and ear wax syringing