The Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission met on Thursday 9 July 2026 to discuss the future of the NHS Federated Data Platform, changes to community pharmacy services, and the annual report of Healthwatch Hackney. The Commission also began scoping a review into improving outcomes for Black women in mental health services.

The NHS Federated Data Platform

Tom Nettle, Deputy CEO of Homerton Healthcare, provided an update on the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP), a national initiative by NHS England intended to improve data sharing and interoperability across the NHS. Homerton Healthcare currently uses the FDP in a limited capacity to provide data on A&E admissions to the London Ambulance Service, assuring members that this does not involve patient data and is covered by data protection regulations. While trusts are encouraged to adopt the FDP, it is not currently mandated. However, Homerton Healthcare would be obliged to use it if NHS England or NHS London required it for performance data. Nettle stated that Homerton Healthcare has no current plans to utilise the FDP beyond its existing use, and that the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the platform's future, including potential supplier reviews, has not led to significant internal planning or expenditure. He confirmed that Homerton Healthcare has not received any substantive information from NHS England regarding plans to review the FDP, beyond public statements. The Commission noted that Homerton Healthcare would be required to use the FDP if mandated by NHS England or NHS London, and that the procurement of FDP suppliers was a national process managed by NHS England, in which Homerton Healthcare had no direct involvement.

Community Pharmacies in Hackney

Shilpa Shah, CEO of Community Pharmacy North East London, discussed the impact of recent changes to the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework in Hackney. She highlighted that community pharmacies are a vital, accessible part of the NHS, offering services beyond dispensing medication, including support for minor illnesses, hospital discharge summaries, and crucially, free oral and emergency contraception. A significant upcoming change is the introduction of independent prescribing by community pharmacists from autumn 2026, which will allow them to prescribe for a wider range of conditions, including bacterial conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, oral thrush, skin infections, and respiratory tract infections. Additionally, a Meningitis B vaccination service will be available for eligible students heading to university. Shah noted that while the independent prescribing training for pharmacists takes six months, the full embedding of this service across all pharmacies could take up to a year. She also addressed the financial pressures on community pharmacies, including dispensing some drugs at a loss and the burden of business rates, advocating for greater government support and lobbying for increased services. The Commission discussed the potential for independent prescribers to manage more complex conditions, with Shah emphasizing that initially, the focus would be on less risky conditions to alleviate pressure on GPs. She also highlighted the need for local authorities to commission services for issues like obesity, suggesting community pharmacies could play a role in education and support programmes. The discussion also touched upon the reduced scope of the Minor Ailment Scheme in Hackney, which has been extended until March 2027, and the discontinuation of funding for monitored dosage systems, which are now only available privately.

Healthwatch Hackney Annual Report

Deborah Cohen, Chair of Healthwatch Hackney, and Sally Beaven, Executive Director, presented the organisation's annual report for 2025/26. They highlighted that despite the impending abolition of local Healthwatch bodies under the NHS Modernisation Bill, Healthwatch Hackney has continued to deliver impactful work, supported by core funding from Hackney Council. The report detailed significant achievements, including collecting 14,886 comments and issues from residents, publishing Enter and View reports on GP practices and Homerton Hospital services, and conducting a mystery shopping exercise for Adult Social Care. Positive feedback indicated an improvement in GP patient experience, with increased satisfaction regarding appointment access and waiting times. However, concerns were raised about the declining reliability of telephone access to GP practices due to a shift towards digital services. Healthwatch Hackney also produced a follow-up report on sickle cell care at Homerton Hospital, ten years after their initial review, noting improvements and areas for further development. The report also covered the System Influencers programme, which empowered young people to improve local health services, and the Father Friendly Borough initiative, focusing on perinatal mental health for fathers. Beaven noted that the organisation has significantly reduced its staff and moved out of its office due to funding uncertainties, but remains committed to delivering its core work and exploring short-term contract opportunities. The Commission expressed concern about the potential loss of Healthwatch's expertise in gathering resident feedback and advocating for co-production models. They also discussed the importance of preserving the knowledge and reports accumulated by Healthwatch over the years.

Scoping a Review on Improving Outcomes for Black Women in NHS Acute and Community Mental Health Services

Councillor Emmanuel Onapa, Chair of the Commission, introduced the proposed review into improving outcomes for Black women in NHS acute and community mental health services. He highlighted that poor mental health outcomes are often linked to complex inequalities in education, housing, and environment. Initial research suggests that ethnic minorities, including Black women, face higher risks of mental ill-health, with potential disparities in hospitalisation rates, access to talking therapies versus medication, and the effectiveness of Eurocentric recovery models. Councillor Reiner Tegtmeyer raised questions about the differing percentages of neglect between Black Caribbean and African populations, suggesting potential reasons such as uptake of provisions or resistance to seeking help due to cultural factors. Councillor Ben Lucas proposed a holistic lens, considering drivers like housing issues and the cost of living, and suggested benchmarking against other boroughs. Councillor Salih emphasised the need to examine social, economic, and racial drivers of inequality and link this work to broader public health initiatives. The Commission agreed that engaging with residents would be crucial for this review and discussed the importance of preserving the knowledge and expertise built by Healthwatch Hackney.

Other Business

The Commission noted the Commission's responses to the annual Quality Accounts reports from Homerton Healthcare and St Joseph's Hospice, which were prepared under Chair's Action due to NHS deadlines. Homerton Healthcare's Quality Account highlighted continued high performance in areas like emergency department efficiency and cancer waiting times, alongside ongoing efforts to address staff retention and data completeness. St Joseph's Hospice's report detailed progress on its five improvement priorities, focusing on practical aspects of patient care and administration, and noted the transition of governance to the Diocese of Westminster. The Commission also agreed to a provisional work programme for the municipal year, which will include the review on improving outcomes for Black women in mental health services as a significant focus. The public engagement survey for topic suggestions revealed a majority of concerns falling within the remit of Skills, Place and Economy, but also included specific health-related issues such as adult social care, carers' assessments, the Federated Data Platform, musculoskeletal problems, NHS appointment waiting times, and women's health. Councillor Jas Crowe requested a live Google Docs link for commenting on documents to streamline feedback. The meeting concluded with the Chair thanking members and confirming the next meeting would be in September.