The Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 15 April 2025 to discuss a range of health-related issues affecting residents of Outer North East London. Key topics included an update on NHS finances and structural changes, a deep dive into cancer services, and a discussion on the proposed Superloop bus route.

Health Update

The committee received a comprehensive health update from various NHS providers. Fiona Wheeler from Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) highlighted improvements in elderly care and patient services, alongside a £35 million capital funding campaign for the redesign of the emergency department at Queen's Hospital. She noted that the department currently sees over 750 patients daily, double its original capacity, and that efforts are underway to enhance safety and efficiency. Significant progress has been made in reducing waiting lists, with the number of patients waiting over a year falling from nearly 2,000 to under 500. However, there are still 4,500 cancer patients awaiting diagnosis or treatment, and while urgent referrals are processed within 28 days, treatment delays remain a concern. BHRUT is also implementing a £61 million savings programme focused on efficiency, workforce costs, procurement, and service partnerships.

Marie Johnson, Chief Operating Officer for BHRUT, provided an update on mental health services, noting improvements in A&E wait times, though they remain excessively long. The initiative to develop crisis cafés in Barking, Dagenham, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest is progressing, with specifications established and tender processes underway. A new community facility has opened in Redbridge to offer structured support and inpatient beds. Efforts are being made to reduce out-of-area mental health placements, with a goal of lowering them to under 30 within the next year. A bid for capital funding has been submitted for new inpatient wards, with a particular focus on increasing female bed capacity. Broader community health initiatives include standardising musculoskeletal services and expanding children's nursing services in Redbridge.

Henry Black, Chief Finance Officer, discussed the government's announcement regarding the abolition of NHS England and the transition of its functions to the Department of Health and Social Care. He outlined the government's agenda to digitise services, shift resources from acute hospitals to community care, and move from treatment towards prevention. Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and divisions face mandated reductions in management costs. In North East London, management costs currently represent about 1.5% of total allocations, and further reductions are expected. A new model for the ICB is being developed, with a target for implementation in Quarter Three. Preliminary financial feedback indicates that targets are on track, and the financial plan for 2025/26 includes challenging savings targets.

The Committee RESOLVED to note the updates provided.

NEL ICB Deep Dive - Cancer

Femi Odewale, Managing Director of the North East London Cancer Alliance, and Angela Wong, Chief Medical Officer, presented an overview of cancer services within the North East London Integrated Care Board (ICB). They highlighted that in 2023-2024, 7,735 people in North East London were diagnosed with cancer, and 52,979 people were living with cancer in 2025. Despite the high volume of diagnoses, only a small proportion are classified as advanced. Performance against key time benchmarks, such as the 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard (FDS) and the 62-day referral to treatment standard, was discussed. While the 31-day decision to treat-to-treatment standard was met, the 28-day FDS performance in December 2024 was 74.84%, falling short of the national target.

The strategy for early diagnosis focuses on three pillars: screening, awareness, and prevention. Breast screening targets women aged 35-64, with additional age groups also included. A new lung cancer screening programme targets asymptomatic patients aged 50-74 who have ever smoked, achieving a 77% survival rate in the screening stage. Efforts are underway to boost bowel cancer screening uptake.

The presentation also detailed the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in diagnostics, particularly for chest X-rays, which has reduced the wait time for significant findings from three weeks to three days. However, concerns were raised about the AI's performance in some instances and the subsequent communication of results to GPs. A suite of 19 animated videos has been developed to support education and awareness.

The overarching vision for cancer services in North East London is to enhance outcomes by reducing variations in care, driving sustainable change through innovation, and adopting a personalised care strategy. Future work includes extending early diagnosis programmes and refining the diagnostic and treatment continuum.

The Committee noted the presentation with thanks and acknowledged that additional update sessions may be needed.

Superloop Bus Route

Ian Buckmaster, representing Healthwatch Havering, presented a discussion on the proposed Transport for London (TfL) Superloop bus route SL12, which is planned to run from Gants Hill to Rainham via Romford. Healthwatch Havering proposed an alternative route that would serve St George's Health and Wellbeing Hub in Hornchurch.

The advantages of the proposed alternative route, as outlined by Mr. Buckmaster, include:

• Serving Hornchurch Town Centre, a more populous area than Elm Park.
• Serving Hornchurch Station, which would improve public transport for those travelling to and from this station by bus, complementing the existing service to Elm Park Station.
• Providing direct access to St George's Hub, a major health facility serving a wide area, including patients undergoing kidney dialysis. The proposed route already serves King George Hospital and Queen's Hospital, Romford, from which patients are often referred to St George's Hub.
• Improving access to St George's Hub from the Rainham area, where there is currently no direct bus route. The SL12 would also pass the Beam Park development area, linking it to St George's Hub.
• Offering better access to Harrow Lodge Park and Leisure Centre, and Hornchurch Country Park. The original proposed route would not serve Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre, a location used for health and wellbeing activities.