The Health Select Committee is scheduled to discuss several key health-related topics, including updates on organisational developments at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, progress on a whole system approach to healthy weight, and efforts to improve oral health outcomes. The committee will also consider a notice of motion regarding fertility treatment provision by the BSW Integrated Care Board.

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust: Organisational Developments and Forward Plans

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on organisational developments and forward plans at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. This briefing paper outlines the Trust's role as a provider of emergency and planned care, as well as specialist services, serving a population of approximately 300,000 people. It also details the formation of the BSW Hospitals Group in 2025, which brought together Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust with Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust. The paper will cover several development schemes, including the planned opening of an Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) alongside an expanded Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service, intended to create a unified emergency front door. The rationale for this includes redirecting patients with minor injuries and illnesses away from the Emergency Department (ED) and improving patient flow.

Further plans include a new Diagnostic and Surgical Hub (DASH), a purpose-built facility designed to replace ageing surgical theatres and expand diagnostic services. This hub is expected to increase surgical and diagnostic capacity, leading to quicker access to operations and tests, and will be a dedicated building for planned care, aiming to reduce cancellations due to emergency pressures. The Trust also plans to change how its on-site staff accommodation is managed, proposing a partnership with a specialist housing provider to invest in refurbishment and improve management services, addressing recruitment and retention challenges. Additionally, the committee will hear about the Southern Counties Pathology Network, a regional initiative involving seven Trusts aimed at improving diagnostic services through shared expertise and automation. Longer-term programmes to be discussed include neighbourhood health services, a feasibility study for a geothermal energy system at Salisbury District Hospital, and potential development of land adjacent to the hospital for various community and business purposes.

Wiltshire Whole System Approach to Healthy Weight

An update is scheduled on the development and progress of the Wiltshire Whole System Approach to Healthy Weight. This initiative, launched in March 2025, aims to address excess weight as a complex public health issue influenced by social, environmental, and economic factors. The approach seeks to improve residents' health by making healthy choices easier and creating more supportive environments. The report details system-building activities, including stakeholder engagement and the development of a shared vision and priorities such as system communication, reducing weight stigma, and strengthening community engagement. The committee will be asked to help identify missing partners, advise on how elected members can support resident voices, and comment on the proposed outcomes and ambition of the approach.

The report highlights that in Wiltshire, 23.5% of children aged 4-5 and 31.5% of children aged 10-11 are living with overweight or obesity, rising to 62% for adults. It also notes that while 72.5% of adults meet recommended physical activity levels, only 48.2% of children do. Learning from the previous Wiltshire Obesity Strategy (2016-2020) indicated widening inequalities and a need for a more coordinated, whole-system response beyond individual services. The current approach involves engaging a broader range of partners and has established a cross-sector core working group. Three priority areas for early action have been identified: improving system-wide communication, reducing weight stigma, and strengthening community engagement and co-production. The committee will be invited to comment on the effectiveness of current partnerships and the proposed outcome measures.

Update on Progress to Improve Oral Health Outcomes, Dental Access and Reduce Inequalities in Wiltshire

The committee is set to receive an update on efforts to improve oral health outcomes, dental access, and reduce inequalities in Wiltshire. While Wiltshire Public Health does not directly commission NHS dentistry, it plays a role in prevention, identifying unmet needs, and supporting underserved groups. The report will highlight improvements in children's dental access, the expansion of supervised toothbrushing programmes, and targeted outreach clinics. However, significant oral health inequalities persist, particularly for children requiring hospital-based extractions and for communities facing barriers to routine dental care.

Data indicates that 34.85% of adults in Wiltshire accessed NHS dental services in the previous 24 months, a decrease from 2023, while children's access has improved to 54.99% in the past 12 months. Despite improvements, 11.4% of five-year-olds in Wiltshire had visually obvious dental decay in 2023/24. Hospital admissions for tooth extractions in children and young people aged 0-19 have risen significantly. The report details targeted interventions, including outreach dental clinics delivered by DentAid for groups such as people experiencing homelessness and those in substance use services. Workforce training is also being delivered to non-dental professionals to improve oral health promotion. A new pathway for people living with dementia is also being developed. The committee will be asked to comment on progress and identify any additional workforces or services that should be prioritised for oral health promotion training.

Notice of Motion No. 2026-04: BSW Integrated Care Board and Fertility Treatment

The committee will consider a notice of motion regarding fertility treatment provision by the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) Integrated Care Board (ICB). The motion, originating from Cllrs Augusta Urquhart-Nicholls and Kevin Asplin, highlights that the BSW ICB currently offers only one NHS-funded IVF cycle, which falls short of NICE guidance recommending up to three full cycles for eligible patients under 40.

The motion argues that this limited provision leads to lower success rates, inequitable access based on ability to pay, and potential long-term pressures on adoption services and population health. The council believes residents deserve equitable access in line with national clinical guidance. The motion proposes that the council write to the BSW ICB urging a review and progressive alignment with NICE recommendations, request a formal response outlining the ICB's position and barriers to change, and authorise the Leader to approach neighbouring councils for a joint letter. It also suggests referring the matter to Overview and Scrutiny for ongoing monitoring. An officer briefing note clarifies that NICE guidelines are advisory, and many ICBs face budget pressures, leading to variations in provision. The BSW ICB's current policy is described as more generous than some in offering two embryo transfers and allowing a child from a previous relationship, but it is still more restrictive than NICE recommendations.

Cabinet Member Update

Cabinet Members, or their Portfolio Holders, are scheduled to provide a brief verbal update on any news, successes, or milestones in their respective areas since the last meeting, provided these are not covered elsewhere on the agenda. Cllr Clare Cape, Cabinet Member for Adults, Public Health and Co-ordination with the NHS, is expected to provide an update.

Forward Work Programme

The committee is scheduled to review its forward work programme. This includes items such as a report on preventative health and social care, a separate report on discharge from hospital, an overview of the Smoke Free Generation initiative, and an update on the NHS 10 Year Plan. Future items also include reports on safeguarding, the Integrated Community Based Care Contract, and NHS Dentistry. The committee will also consider the development of a consultation protocol between the NHS/ICB and the Health Select Committee.