The Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission met on Thursday 9 July 2026 to discuss the future of the NHS Federated Data Platform, the evolving role of community pharmacies, and the annual report from Healthwatch Hackney. Key decisions included the appointment of members to the Inner North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the agreement to scope a review into improving outcomes for Black women in mental health services.

NHS Federated Data Platform

Tom Nettle, Deputy CEO of Homerton Healthcare, provided an update on the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP). He explained that the FDP is a national initiative by NHS England designed to create a common data infrastructure across the NHS to improve data sharing and patient care. While Homerton Healthcare is currently using the FDP in a limited capacity to share non-patient performance data with the London Ambulance Service, there are no current plans for wider adoption. Nettle clarified that while trusts are encouraged to adopt the FDP, they would be obliged to use it if NHS England or NHS London mandated it for performance data. He assured the commission that Homerton Healthcare has not undertaken significant work to prepare for the FDP, mitigating concerns about wasted resources due to potential changes in the platform's future. The commission noted that NHS England's Chief Executive, Sir Jim Mackey, has publicly expressed the need for a detailed review of the FDP.

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. She highlighted that community pharmacies are increasingly acting as the front door of the NHS, offering services beyond dispensing medications, including advice for minor illnesses, support for hospital discharge summaries, and free oral and emergency contraception. A significant upcoming change is the introduction of independent prescribing for pharmacists from autumn 2026, initially focusing on services like contraception and Pharmacy First conditions. Shah also noted the importance of the new Meningococcal B vaccination service for university-bound students. She acknowledged that while the independent prescribing training takes six months, the full embedding of this service across all pharmacies could take up to a year. Shah also discussed the challenges of funding for local services and the potential for community pharmacies to play a greater role in public health initiatives like obesity prevention and substance misuse support, provided these services are commissioned by the local authority. The commission also discussed the current funding status of the Minor Ailment Scheme, which has been extended until March 2027, and the discontinuation of funding for monitored dosage systems, which pharmacies are now providing at a loss or as a private offering.

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 Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch bodies under the NHS Modernisation Bill, Healthwatch Hackney has continued to deliver impactful work. The report detailed achievements such as a follow-up report on sickle cell care at Homerton Hospital, mystery shopping exercises for adult social care, and Enter and View visits to GP practices. Beaven noted that the organisation has significantly streamlined its staff and operations due to funding changes, now operating solely on core funding. They expressed pride in their work, particularly the System Influencers programme which empowered young people to improve health services, and the Learning Disabilities Quality Checkers project, which has secured ongoing local authority funding. Both Cohen and Beaven emphasised 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

The commission began scoping a review into improving outcomes for Black women in NHS acute and community mental health services. Councillor Emmanuel Onapa, Chair of the Commission, highlighted that this review would form a significant part of the year's work programme. Initial discussions with stakeholders, including East London Foundation Trust (ELFT) and Public Health, are underway. The proposed drivers for the review include the link between broader inequalities (education, housing, environment) and mental health, and the specific challenges Black women face in accessing mental healthcare due to cultural beliefs and structural racism. The commission discussed the need to examine disparities in mental health risks, the tendency for minority communities to enter the system through crisis services, systemic discrimination, and the impact of Eurocentric recovery models. Councillor Reiner Tegtmeyer raised questions about potential cultural reasons for differing mental health outcomes between Black Caribbean and African populations. Councillor Sally Zlotowitz, Cabinet Member for Healthy Communities and Adult Social Care, expressed her full support for the review, emphasizing the need to address social, economic, and racial drivers of inequality. The commission agreed to consider a holistic lens, including factors like housing and cost of living, and to benchmark against other boroughs.

Other Matters

The commission noted the commission's responses to the annual Quality Accounts reports from Homerton Healthcare and St Joseph's Hospice. They also reviewed the draft work programme for the municipal year, noting that the review on improving outcomes for Black women would occupy a significant portion of the commission's time. The commission agreed to the minutes of the previous meeting and noted the updated action tracker. A request was made for a live Google Docs link to facilitate commenting on the draft terms of reference for the review on Black women's mental health outcomes.