The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Shropshire Council was scheduled to consider an update on the Healthy Neighbourhoods programme, which aims to improve local health and wellbeing through integrated services and community involvement. The committee was also scheduled to receive updates from the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Health and Wellbeing Board, as well as review its work programme.

Healthy Neighbourhoods Programme Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an overview of the Healthy Neighbourhoods programme within the Shropshire Council area. This programme is intended to foster healthier, happier, and more connected neighbourhoods by ensuring residents have access to necessary care, support, and opportunities. The report pack indicated that the programme's vision is to expand joined-up services closer to home, work inclusively with communities, build a culture of valuing people and innovation, and prioritise prevention, early intervention, digital innovation, and the reduction of inequalities.

The programme's governance, delivery priorities, and partnership working were scheduled to be discussed. A key element of the programme is the Neighbourhood Outcomes Funding Framework for 2026/27, which allocates £2.9 million to accelerate the development of neighbourhood models of care. This funding is intended to be routed through Shropshire Community Health Trust (SCHT) as an integrator, working in partnership with general practice, Primary Care Networks (PCNs), the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, local authorities, and other providers. The framework sets out expectations for outcomes, priority cohorts, and delivery performance, focusing on areas such as the establishment of core multidisciplinary team (MDT) infrastructure, maturity of MDTs and shared caseloads, and the implementation of population health management.

The report pack highlighted that the programme aims to achieve measurable improvements in system outcomes, including a stabilisation or reduction in urgent and emergency care demand, reduced hospital length of stay for priority cohorts, and a demonstrable shift in activity from acute to community settings. It also aims to reduce the utilisation of services by high-intensity users and improve outcomes for priority population groups, such as those with frailty and cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic conditions. The committee was scheduled to consider how local members, communities, service users, and frontline staff would be involved in shaping and evaluating neighbourhood delivery.

Update from the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC)

Councillor Bernie Bentick, Chair of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, was scheduled to provide a verbal update from the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC). Previous discussions at the JHOSC had focused on winter planning across the health and care system, community health provision, and the performance of West Midlands Ambulance Service. The JHOSC had noted improvements in system-wide winter planning, including enhanced coordination and additional capacity within the health system. It had also considered issues related to vaccination delivery, delayed discharges, infection control, and the role of community pharmacy, requesting more detailed performance information.

Update from the Health and Wellbeing Board

A verbal update was scheduled to be received from the Health and Wellbeing Board. The report pack indicated that a previous Health and Wellbeing Board meeting had been postponed, with agenda items rolled forward. The upcoming meeting was expected to include consideration of neighbourhood health and care arrangements, Healthwatch updates, Joint Strategic Needs Assessment chapters relating to maternity services and drug and alcohol services, the Better Care Fund year-end position, and the Integrated Care Board's five-year strategic commissioning plan.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to receive a verbal update on its work programme. The report pack indicated that key areas of focus included neighbourhood health and care arrangements, the future development of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, children and young people's mental health, the future of the independent patient voice, and community drug and alcohol services. The committee was expected to emphasise the importance of early involvement in policy development and commissioning, and timely access to information for effective scrutiny. The report pack also noted that a dedicated work programming session was to be held to review priorities, consider capacity, and identify appropriate scrutiny approaches. Joint working with the People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on matters relating to children and young people's mental health and wellbeing was also supported.

The committee was scheduled to note that its next meeting was scheduled to take place on Monday 25 January 2027.