The Health and Adult Social Services Scrutiny Panel is scheduled to discuss a range of important health-related topics, including a strategy to tackle childhood obesity, updates on community health services, and plans to improve access to primary care. The panel will also review the Integrated Care Boards' plans for Place and Neighbourhoods.

CYP Healthy Weight Programme

A significant focus of the meeting will be the Children and Young People (CYP) Healthy Weight Strategy for Ealing, covering the period 2026-2031. This strategy aims to support children and young people in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight through a comprehensive, whole-systems approach. It acknowledges that healthy weight is influenced by a complex interplay of factors, including biological, social, economic, and environmental influences, and requires collaboration across sectors and the community. The report outlines the vision, aims, and objectives of the strategy, which include developing a whole-systems plan, co-production with partners and communities, identifying opportunities and gaps, clarifying roles, improving pathways and signposting, effective communication, reducing inequalities, and embedding data, monitoring, and research. The strategy aligns with broader frameworks such as the Building Blocks of Health and the London-wide Every Child a Healthy Weight ambitions. The report highlights that in Ealing, one in five children aged 4-5 and one in three aged 10-11 are overweight or obese, with higher rates in deprived communities and among certain ethnic groups. The strategy's action plan is organised around cross-cutting themes and specific topic areas, including physical activity, environment, nutrition, multi-component programmes, and care pathways. Progress will be tracked using national and local indicators, with a strong emphasis on reducing health inequalities.

Ealing Community Partners Community Health Services

The panel will receive an update on Ealing Community Partners, which encompasses a range of community health services commissioned by the North West London Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Ealing Council from West London NHS Trust. The report provides an update on three key areas:

• Ealing Bladder and Bowel Service (EBAB): This specialist nursing service for all ages aims to optimise bladder and bowel health. The update will cover recent actions to improve service delivery, work towards implementing a North West London Core Specification, and highlight any gaps and potential challenges, along with proposed mitigations.
• Community Core Offer: This section details ongoing work across North West London to improve collaboration between the three providers of Community and Mental Health Services within the ICB. It focuses on the development and implementation of core specifications to ensure more consistent services for all North West London residents, outlining three priority workstreams and the future roadmap for the programme.
• Tier 2 Paediatric Audiology: Following an assurance visit in March 2025, this service was temporarily suspended to address quality and safety concerns. The report will detail the impact on service delivery, immediate actions taken, the current status of the service, and the forward plan for its improvement.

Primary Care Access

The panel will review the work being undertaken by NHS North West London (NWL) to improve access to primary care. The report outlines the evolution of the NWL Primary Care Access Programme, which has been reshaped through extensive engagement with patients, staff, and system partners. The revised 2025/26 Access specification is being delivered, with an ongoing objective to ensure timely, high-quality patient care, enable practices to manage demand, and relieve system-wide pressures. Key priorities include enhancing the role of Dentistry, Optometry, and Community Pharmacy (DOPs), building on Neighbourhood Health initiatives, expanding digital access via the NHS App, and utilising existing pathways while maintaining continuity of care. The report highlights that NWL is making progress in improving primary care access, with a strong commitment to equity and patient voice, moving towards more integrated, digitally enabled, and patient-centred care. It also details performance metrics related to accessibility, continuity of care, use of digital tools, patient engagement, and health equity. The report will also cover wider primary care access, including improvements in dentistry, community pharmacy, and optometry services, as well as specific initiatives in Ealing such as the Pharmacy First service and a targeted dental access pilot for children.

NHS NCL and NWL ICB Place and Neighbourhoods

The panel will receive information on the significant changes occurring within the North Central London (NCL) and North West London (NWL) Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). A new West and North London ICB will be established on 1 April 2026, with a focus on strategic commissioning and a required reduction in running costs. The report outlines the key changes, the spectrum of roles played locally, and the high-level ICB operating model for Place and Neighbourhood. The priority for the new ICB is the development of neighbourhood health, with a commitment to commissioning innovatively across sectors to ensure effective implementation and outcomes. The document details the principles for Place and Neighbourhood, emphasizing a lighter touch commissioner role with delivery focused provider-led partnerships. It also discusses the evolution of roles within the public sector landscape, the spectrum of ICB roles at Place and Neighbourhood, and the target operating model, which includes a strengthened, coordinated transformation function through a new Neighbourhood Commissioning and Transformation Unit (NCTU).

Panel Work Programme

The panel will review its work programme, which outlines the issues the panel intends to consider as part of its oversight role in monitoring NHS and Council performance and policy implementation. The work programme is a rolling plan that will be amended throughout the period, allowing for new issues to be addressed as they arise. The panel will be asked to agree the work programme, suggest any additional items, and identify who should be engaged in the selected agenda items.