The Health and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to discuss the winter plan for health and social care, receive an update from the West Midlands Ambulance Service, and review their work programme for the coming year.

Winter Plan for Health and Social Care

The committee is scheduled to discuss the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care System (ICS) winter plan. The report pack includes a report titled SCC HOSC Report - SSOT ICS Winter Plan - 10 November 2025.

The report provides an overview of the challenges facing the health and care system during the winter months, including increased demand for services, workforce pressures, and the impact of adverse weather. It also sets out the key priorities for the winter plan, which include:

• Ensuring timely access to urgent and emergency care
• Supporting people to stay well at home
• Protecting vulnerable people from the effects of cold weather
• Managing outbreaks of infectious diseases

The report states that the winter plan has been developed in partnership with a wide range of organisations, including:

• Staffordshire County Council
• Stoke-on-Trent City Council
• NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board
• University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
• Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
• West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
• Primary Care Providers
• Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector organisations

The report also highlights some of the specific initiatives that are being put in place to support the winter plan, such as:

• Increasing the number of hospital beds available
• Recruiting additional staff
• Extending the opening hours of GP practices
• Providing more support for people to manage their health conditions at home
• Delivering a public awareness campaign to promote healthy behaviours

The report concludes that the winter plan is a comprehensive and robust plan that will help to ensure that people in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent receive the care they need during the winter months.

West Midlands Ambulance Service Update

The committee is scheduled to receive an update from the West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS). The report pack includes a presentation titled WMAS Presentation Slides - Staffs HOSC Nov 2025.

The presentation is expected to cover a range of topics, including:

• WMAS performance against key targets
• The challenges facing WMAS, such as increasing demand and workforce pressures
• The steps that WMAS is taking to improve its performance
• WMAS's plans for the future

Health and Care Work Programme 2025-26

The committee is scheduled to review its Health and Care Work Programme 2025-26. The work programme sets out the topics that the committee will be focusing on over the coming year. The report pack includes a document titled Health and Care Work Programme 2025-26.

The current draft of the work programme includes the following topics:

• Winter planning
• Mental health services
• Adult social care
• Children's health services
• The integration of health and social care
• The impact of the Health and Care Act 2022

District and Borough Activity Update

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on district and borough activity. The report pack includes a document titled District and Borough Activity Update November 2025.

The update provides information on the health and care activities that are being undertaken by the district and borough councils in Staffordshire. It is expected to cover a range of topics, including:

• Public health initiatives
• Social care services
• Housing support
• Leisure and recreation activities

Executive Response - Choice Policy

The committee is scheduled to consider the Executive Response - Choice Policy. The report pack includes a document titled Executive Response - Choice Policy.

The report provides a response to the committee's previous recommendations on the choice policy. The choice policy sets out the rights of patients to choose their healthcare provider.