The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Worcestershire Council met on Wednesday, 4 March 2026, to discuss access to GP appointments and NHS primary care dental services. The committee also reviewed and refreshed its work programme for the upcoming year.

Access to GP Appointments (Including Out of Hours)

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on access to GP appointments and services across Worcestershire, including the operation of the Worcestershire GP Out of Hours service. Representatives from NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (HWICB) were expected to provide information on current activity levels, patient experience, and the impact of national and local initiatives aimed at improving access. The report indicated that general practice in Worcestershire delivers approximately 5.5 million appointments annually, a 20% increase compared to pre-pandemic levels. National survey results for 2025 suggested that Herefordshire and Worcestershire experienced some of the best access to and satisfaction with primary care services in England, with 61% of patients finding it easy to get through to their GP practice by telephone. The report also detailed the progress of the Modern General Practice Access (MGPA) initiative and the role of same-day urgent access hubs. The Worcestershire GP Out of Hours service, currently provided by Practice Plus Group, was also discussed, with information on its operation and the upcoming procurement of a new provider.

Update on Access to NHS Primary Care Dental Services

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on access to NHS primary care dental services in Worcestershire. This report followed a previous update in January 2025 and detailed the ongoing work by HWICB, which took over commissioning responsibility for dental services in April 2023. The report highlighted challenges in access driven by the national dental contract, which has remained largely unchanged since 2006, and workforce issues. Reforms to the NHS dental contract, due to be implemented from April 2026, were discussed, focusing on improving access, quality, prevention, and workforce retention. The report indicated that access to NHS dentistry for Herefordshire and Worcestershire had been increasing steadily, with 41,518 patients remaining to be seen to return to pre-pandemic levels as of November 2025. The report also detailed contractor performance, public perception of NHS dental services, and the identification of areas of dental need through a Dental Services Equity Audit. The Herefordshire & Worcestershire Local Dental Recovery Plan, which aims to improve equitable access, focus on prevention, develop the dental workforce, and strengthen relationships with local providers, was also outlined.

Refresh of the Scrutiny Work Programme 2026/27

The committee was scheduled to consider suggestions for its 2026/27 Work Programme before it was submitted to the Council for approval. The report outlined the process for developing the work programme, including inviting suggestions from committee members and stakeholders. The feasibility criteria for prioritising topics were also detailed, such as whether an issue is a priority for the Council, a key concern for local people, and likely to lead to improvements for residents. The remit of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which includes scrutiny of local NHS bodies and health services, was also reiterated. The report also listed the dates of future committee meetings scheduled for 2026.