Subscribe to updates
You'll receive weekly summaries about Lewisham Council every week.
If you have any requests or comments please let us know at community@opencouncil.network. We can also provide custom updates on particular topics across councils.
Healthier Communities Select Committee - Thursday, 3 September 2026 - 7.00 pm
September 3, 2026 at 7:00 pm Healthier Communities Select Committee View on council website Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)Summary
Open Council Network is an independent organisation. We report on Lewisham and are not the council. About us
The Healthier Communities Select Committee met on Thursday 3 September 2026 to discuss the use of the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) and Palantir software, and to receive an update on the Heather Close Community Mental Health Centre. The committee also reviewed and agreed its work programme for the upcoming year.
NHS Federated Data Platform and Palantir
The committee received a report detailing the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust's use of the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP), which utilises Palantir's data integration software. The FDP is a national NHS programme designed to connect health data from different organisations to streamline services and improve patient care. The Trust highlighted that its use of the FDP, particularly through the Care Coordination System (CCS) for elective services and Optica for discharge planning, has improved operational visibility and reduced fragmented manual processes. For example, theatre utilisation has increased from 72% to 79.2% since the implementation of the CCS module.
Concerns were raised by councillors regarding data security, the reputation of Palantir, and the potential for residents to be less willing to share information. The Trust assured the committee that it remains the data controller for its local FDP instance, with data remaining under NHS control and not accessible or usable by Palantir for its own purposes. Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) have been completed for all FDP use cases, and access is role-based and limited to staff with an operational need.
The committee recommended that the Trust complete a review comparing the functionality of the FDP and the upcoming Epic Electronic Patient Record (EPR) system, and report the outcomes back to the committee.
Heather Close Community Mental Health Centre
An update was provided on the Heather Close Community Mental Health Centre, a national pilot site for a new 24/7 integrated community mental health care model. The centre, which officially opened in May 2026, aims to provide accessible, person-centred care, with extended opening hours and a focus on collaboration with voluntary and community sector (VCSE) organisations.
The centre has seen positive impacts, including a significant increase in the use of crisis slots and a 43% decrease in Emergency Department (ED) presentations in the first five months of 2026 compared to the previous year. Feedback from members highlighted the welcoming atmosphere, the ease of access, and the benefits of the integrated service. The report also detailed the extensive involvement of VCSE organisations, particularly Black-led groups, in delivering culturally appropriate services and addressing health inequalities.
The committee noted the report and recommended that South London and Maudsley (SLAM) NHS Foundation Trust colleagues share the final evaluation report with the committee when it is finalised in October 2026.
Select Committee Work Programme
The committee reviewed and agreed its work programme for the upcoming year. Key items for future meetings include the Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report, Adult Social Care Performance, and the Budget. The Safeguarding Adults Board report has been postponed to the November meeting.
The committee also noted changes to the published work programme, which will be reflected in the programme for the next meeting.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
-
Apologies
Recommendations ApprovedThe Healthier Communities Select Committee of Lewisham Council decided to approve recommendations on 03/09/2026. Apologies were received from Cllr Claire Wills.
-
Declarations of interest
Recommendations ApprovedThe Healthier Communities Select Committee approved recommendations on 03/09/2026. Cllr Rebecca Jones declared membership of the British Medical Association, employment as a GP, and her partner's role on the BMA Local Negotiating Committee, noting these were not disclosable interests for agenda items.
-
Responses from Mayor and Cabinet
Recommendations ApprovedThe Healthier Communities Select Committee of Lewisham Council approved recommendations on 03 September 2026. No further details were provided.
-
Heather Close Community Mental Health Centre
Recommendations ApprovedThe Healthier Communities Select Committee approved recommendations regarding the Heather Close Community Mental Health Centre on 03/09/2026. SLAM colleagues will share the final evaluation report with the committee when it is finalised in October 2026.
-
NHS Federated Data Platform and Palantir
Recommendations ApprovedThe Healthier Communities Select Committee decided to note the report and recommended that the Trust complete a review comparing the functionality of the Federated Data Platform and Epic. The committee recommended reporting the outcome of this comparison back to them.
-
Select Committee work programme
Recommendations ApprovedThe Healthier Communities Select Committee decided to note changes to its Work Programme and agree the revised programme, including proposed items for the meeting on 3 November 2026. The committee approved the Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report, Adult Social Care Performance, and Budget as items for this meeting.
-
Minutes of previous meeting
Recommendations ApprovedThe Healthier Communities Select Committee of Lewisham Council approved the minutes of the previous meeting on 03 September 2026. The committee also approved the start time for meetings in the 2026/27 municipal year and the 2026/27 Work Programme.
Attendees
Topics
Meeting Documents
Additional Documents