The Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee was scheduled to receive updates from King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, as well as discuss paediatric audiology services and dental services. The meeting's report pack also included information on the development of King's College Hospital's new 5-year strategy.

Update from King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

The sub-committee was scheduled to receive a general update from King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, covering various aspects of its operations. This included performance updates on emergency care, with challenges noted in meeting the four-hour wait target, partly due to high attendance volumes and delays in mental health patient transfers. The report pack indicated that Corridor congestion continues to be increased due to increase in admitted demand, along with significant delays for mental health decision to admit patients. Future actions planned included reviewing care group improvement plans and revising acute medicine models.

The update also detailed the Trust's Elective Recovery performance, noting that the total Patient Waiting List (PTL) size was below the operational plan target, though incomplete performance remained above the operating plan. Specific attention was given to the number of 65-week waiters, which was above the operating plan, driven by long waits in Surgery and Ophthalmology. Future actions to address this included enhanced clinical validation and exploration of mutual aid offers.

Cancer performance was also on the agenda, with figures for 28-day, 31-day, and 62-day performance against operational plan targets presented. The report pack stated that 62-day performance. Submitted NHSE position for October was 60.4% against an operation plan target of 73.8%.

A workforce and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) update was scheduled, detailing the People Directorate's proposed restructure, activities during National Apprenticeship Week, and headline results from the 2025 Staff Survey, which showed improvements across nine People Promises. The report pack also outlined proposed changes to haematological cancer care at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), aiming to consolidate inpatient care at the Denmark Hill site and enhance day case provision at the PRUH. EDI activities included marking LGBT+ History Month and Race Equality & Interfaith Harmony Week.

Estates and capital updates were to be provided, including the completion of the Endoscopy Unit and ongoing ward refresh programmes. The report pack also highlighted the significant uptake of the MyChart patient portal, with over 293,000 King's patients signed up, and progress on integrating with the NHS App.

The financial position of the Trust was to be discussed, with a year-to-date surplus of £3.3 million reported as of the end of December, although an underlying deficit of £91.1 million was noted when excluding non-recurrent support. The Trust was forecasting a breakeven position at year-end, but with a £11.7 million risk-assessed adverse variance against the planned recurrent position. The report pack detailed the need to deliver cost-savings of £82.4 million for the financial year, with £41.9 million delivered year-to-date against a plan of £51.6 million.

Additionally, the sub-committee was scheduled to review the development of the Trust's new 5-year strategy for 2026-2031. This involved a process of deciding, defining, reflecting, and understanding the national and local care landscape. The report pack outlined refreshed values, purpose, and vision, and emerging strategic objectives focusing on high-quality care, research and innovation, timely and efficient care, a great place to work, strong partnerships, and financial sustainability. Feedback from engagement sessions indicated a desire for a stronger patient focus in values and clearer alignment of the previous BOLD strategy with operational realities and the changing NHS context.

Paediatric Audiology Services Update

A key item on the agenda was an update on Paediatric Audiology Services, concerning the proposed transfer of routine (Tier 2) services from Bromley Healthcare to Evelina London Children's Hospital, part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, from 1 April 2026. This change follows a national review and aims to consolidate Tier 2 services into a single accredited provider model. The report pack indicated that the current provision in Bromley had issues with adequate soundproofing for diagnostic tests, leading to a pause in VRA testing for younger children and their transfer to Evelina London Children's Hospital under mutual aid arrangements. The recommendation was to endorse and support the proposal to transfer these services. The report pack noted that while some families might experience increased travel in the short term, mitigations were in place, and a compliant site for Bexley, Bromley, and Greenwich was planned for 2026/27.

Update from Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

An update from Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust was scheduled to follow, though details were not available in the provided agenda.

Update on Dental Services

An update on dental services was also listed, with further details to be provided.

Healthwatch Bromley - Chartwell Patient Experience Report

A verbal update from Healthwatch Bromley regarding the Chartwell Patient Experience Report was scheduled.

South East London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee

A verbal update was also planned from the South East London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee.