The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday 1 July 2026 to discuss the Wokingham All-Age Autism Strategy, NHS dentistry for care home patients, and performance indicators for Adult Social Care and Public Health. Key decisions included noting the progress of the Autism Strategy and reviewing performance data across various public health and adult social care services.

Wokingham All-Age Autism Strategy & Action Plan Update

The committee received an update on the Wokingham All-Age Autism Strategy and Action Plan, which aims to improve support for autistic individuals across the borough. Emma Cockerell, Executive Director for Children's Services and Chair of the Autism Joint Planning Group, presented the progress made in the first year of the strategy (2025-26), which focused on developing neuro-inclusive communities. This included initiatives such as updating webpages, providing specialist training, and embedding the use of neurodiversity passports. The strategy is a collaborative effort involving Wokingham Borough Council, Thames Valley Integrated Care Board, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, ASD Family Help, Autism Berkshire, Promise Inclusion, and CLASP. The next phase of delivery will focus on identifying autism and improving health outcomes, with a new action plan for 2026-27.

NHS Dentistry for Care Home Patients

Julie Dandridge, Associate Director for Primary Care at the Thames Valley ICB, provided an update on NHS dentistry for care home patients. She explained that while access to NHS dentistry has improved since the pandemic, it has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. A new national contract, implemented from April 2026, requires all NHS dental providers to allocate a proportion of their activity to urgent care. The ICB also commissions a dental access scheme for vulnerable patients, including care home residents who can attend a dental surgery. For those unable to travel, the Community Dental Service offers a domiciliary service for urgent appointments. A pilot scheme in Oxfordshire, which involved taking dentists into care homes, found that while dental issues were prevalent, it was not always a priority for care homes or residents. NICE guidance from 2016 on oral health for adults in care homes remains relevant.

Presentation on the Role of Healthwatch

Alice Kunjappy-Clifton, Lead Officer for Healthwatch Wokingham, presented on the role of Healthwatch Wokingham Borough. She highlighted that Healthwatch acts as a statutory champion for people using health and social care services, with a remit covering all ages. Healthwatch was established in 2012 following the Mid Staffordshire inquiry, and its independence is crucial for its function. The organisation listens to public feedback, influences decisions with local authorities and the NHS, and holds services to account. Key issues raised by the public include GP access, barriers to accessing services, poor communication, and digital exclusion. Healthwatch also works to reduce health inequalities and has been involved in initiatives related to South Asian women's health and health literacy. The committee noted the importance of Healthwatch's independent voice, especially in light of potential government changes.

Adult Services Quarter 4 2025/26 Key Performance Indicators

Wesley Hedger, Service Director for Adult Social Care - Strategy, Transformation and Commissioning, presented the Quarter 4 performance report for Adult Social Care. The report indicated that 5 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were meeting their targets (green), 3 were slightly off target (amber), and 1 was off target (red). A significant challenge highlighted was the opening of Matthewsgreen Community Centre, which replaced Westmead Day Centre, and the ongoing demographic pressures, particularly the increase in older people over 85, which is placing strain on the system. The red KPI, AS4, relates to new permanent admissions to residential or nursing care homes for those aged 65+, with 184 admissions recorded for the full year, which is lower than the previous year but still above the target. The AS5 KPI, concerning the proportion of people receiving long-term care who were reviewed in the last 12 months, was amber, with 69% of reviews completed, slightly below the 70% target. The report also noted the increasing complexity of needs within the borough and the funding pressures faced by Adult Social Care.

Public Health KPIs Q4 2025/26

Caroline Vass, Director of Public Health, presented the Public Health Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Quarter 4 2025/26. Due to data delays, most KPIs reported were for Quarter 3. Of the reported KPIs, 1 was red, 1 was amber, and 7 were green. The red KPI, PH1, relates to mothers receiving a face-to-face antenatal contact with a health visitor at 28 weeks of pregnancy or later, which has remained red for four quarters. This is attributed to a high ambition for contact, service capacity, and the fact that pregnant mothers are already supported by midwifery teams. Actions to improve this include enhancing antenatal notification data and reviewing the antenatal offer. The PH2 KPI, concerning the percentage of babies receiving a face-to-face new birth visit within 14 days, was amber overall (91% achieved) but red for the targeted caseload (79% achieved). The report highlighted that babies remaining in hospital longer or being under midwifery care can impact these figures. The committee discussed the importance of early intervention and ensuring no children fall through the net.

Forward Programme

The committee considered the forward programme for the remainder of the municipal year. Several items were added or rescheduled, including a short breaks update, a further update on the autism strategy in a year's time, and a presentation from the new Chief Executive of the Royal Berkshire Hospital. The committee also agreed to schedule a presentation from Optalis in September and to revisit maternity services in March 2027. The forward programme also includes standing items such as updates from Healthwatch, and challenge items on Adult Social Care and Public Health KPIs.