This meeting's agenda includes a report on the Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre, one year on from its opening. There will also be discussions on NHS procurement procedures for Community Services and a review of the NHS's Winter Plan.

NHS Kent and Medway Community Services review and procurement

The Integrated Care Board (ICB) is undertaking a procurement process for NHS Community Services, with the goal of having new contracts in place no later than 27 October 2025.

The lifetime value of the contracts is £1.6bn. To ensure transparency and continuity, the procurement has been broken down into four phases. These are:

1. Programme Initiation
2. Procurement Route and ITT Preparation
3. ITT Publication, Bid Evaluation and Contract Recommendation
4. Contract Award, Mobilisation and Contract Start

At the time of writing, the project is entering phase three, with the publication of the invitation to tender document on 5 December 2024.

The tender allows for bidders to bid on six lots:

• Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Adult Services
• East Kent Adult Services
• Kent (excluding Swale) Children's Services
• Medway and Swale Adult Services
• Medway and Swale Children’s Services
• West Kent Adult Services

Bidders are permitted to bid for one or multiple lots, including joint bids.

The ICB has produced a communications and engagement plan which focuses on feedback in three key areas:

1. What is working well in community health services?
2. What could be improved in community health services?
3. What matters most to people? (principles for future transformation)

NHS Winter Planning 2024/25

NHS Kent and Medway are required to produce a Winter Plan each year. The plan for 2024/25 was submitted to NHS England on 29 November 2024. The plan incorporates national guidance, including a requirement to maintain bed bases and support people to stay well at home.

The plan includes surge plans, capacity and demand predictions, improvements to mitigate demand and urgent emergency care assurance.

Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust will present a report on the Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre, one year on from its opening in November 2023.

The report will explain the Centre's work supporting around 4,500 people each month. This includes an Ageing Well clinic and Wound Centre, as well as a Wellbeing Centre which is open four days a week.

The report also details some of the feedback the new Centre has received, and how this has been addressed.

Thanet Integrated Care Hub

The Committee has been asked to consider whether a proposal to establish a new Integrated Care Hub in Thanet constitutes a substantial variation in service.

The proposal is a collaboration between NHS Kent and Medway, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, Kent and Medway Social Care Partnership, general practice provider Invicta Health CiC and Age UK.

The proposed site for the new hub is the Carey Building, on Northwood Road in Broadstairs.

The hub would bring together a range of services, including:

• A clinical diagnostic spoke
• Community health services
• GP services
• Signposting and support to other local services

Specialist Children's Cancer Services

The Committee has been asked to note a written update on the provision of Specialist Children's Cancer Services.

The update has been provided by NHS England and Evelina London Children's Hospital and explains the progress made in re-locating the Principal Treatment Centre from its current location at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust’s hospital in Sutton and St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s hospital in Tooting to a new location at the Evelina London Children's Hospital.

Revisions to the Terms of Reference of the Kent and Medway NHS Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC)

This report asks the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider changes to the Terms of Reference of the Kent and Medway NHS Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC).¹

The changes to the Terms of Reference are intended to bring them in line with the Health and Care Act 2022.

The Committee has also been asked to decide who should be responsible for submitting requests for the Secretary of State to 'call-in' proposals for changes to health services that have been reviewed by the JHOSC, and who should make representations to the Secretary of State when a decision to change health services has been called in.

The Committee has been asked to consider two options for each decision:

1. That the JHOSC should have delegated powers to make the requests or representations.
2. That individual councils should retain the power to decide whether to make requests or representations.
   

The report sets out some of the advantages and disadvantages of each option.