The Health and Adults Scrutiny Panel were scheduled to meet on Wednesday 3 September 2025 to discuss the scheduled immunisation programme, mental health services, and a work programme update. The meeting was also scheduled to include a review of the minutes from the meeting held on 2 July 2025, a monitoring of recommendations and actions, and partner updates.

Mental Health Services

The Health and Adults Scrutiny Panel were scheduled to discuss mental health services in Salford, specifically routes to access provision. Councillors Sammie Bellamy, Deputy Chair of Health and Adult Scrutiny Panel, Hilaria Asumu and Chioma Mgbeokwere, Deputy Chair of the Licensing and Safety Regulatory Panel were expected to act as rapporteurs¹ for this item.

Scheduled Immunisation Programme

The panel were scheduled to discuss a report from Beverley Wasp, Head of Health Protection, regarding the scheduled immunisation programme. The report noted that immunisation is a key and cost-effective part of primary health care, and that vaccines are critical to the prevention, management and control of infectious diseases. It also noted that Salford is currently not meeting the World Health Organization's recommended immunisation thresholds. The report stated that since 2013, all immunisations' rates in the UK, Greater Manchester and Salford have decreased year on year, and that the downward trajectory in Salford has been greater than the England average, with Salford having one of the lowest rates within Greater Manchester. The report stated that Broughton Primary Care Network (PCN) routinely has the lowest uptake, while Walkden/Little Hulton PCN often has the highest. The report also noted that low uptake has led to outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases, and that evidence suggests that the HPV vaccine can eliminate 90% of cervical cancers, with low uptake potentially leading to preventable cancers. The report provided more detail on all vaccines given by the NHS including childhood, school aged, seasonal and adult immunisations, highlighting that although childhood imms has now levelled out and there has been a small increase in uptake, there is still a lot of work to be done to get within recommendations. The report outlined the following recommendations for action:

We ask for your support to promote immunisations in your local areas and with those you see appropriate, that you engage with. Immunisation save lives. Due to the decline in immunisation, we are seeing the re-emergence of disease we had virtually eradicated in this country, like measles. Vaccinatable diseases can be very serious, leading to long term health problems and even death.

We need to act now and educate more people about the facts rather than the increase; false information shared on the internet and social media.

Please note the contact of this paper is factual and hopefully provided all the information on immunisation and screening programmes available to our residents.

Work Programme Update

The panel were scheduled to discuss a report from Christian Scade, Head of Governance, providing an update on the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2025/26. The report noted that the revised Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2025/26 reflected both the specific issues discussed in June 2025 and the subsequent detailed refinements, via engagements with Chairs, Vice Chairs, and Officers. It also outlined proposed operational improvements to the effectiveness of the scrutiny function, specifically:

• Scrutiny Focus and Prioritisation for scrutiny to do fewer things better.
• Work Programme Meetings proactive agenda planning meetings should continue ahead of future meetings to ensure clear aims and objectives for all items.
• Rapporteur Approach and Other Scrutiny Methods Panels are invited to confirm which scrutiny methods they wish to adopt, with an emphasis on ensuring these projects remain manageable.
• Public Engagement wider engagement mechanisms should be explored.
• Budget Scrutiny the updated work programme in Appendix 1 to the report reflected timeframe.
• Action Tracker agreement to adopt and consistently use a standardised template for tracking recommendations and associated actions arising from scrutiny meetings (Children's Scrutiny Panel to be rolled out for use by all Scrutiny Panels).
• Member Development and Chair Training bespoke training and mentoring options for scrutiny chairs has been received from the Local Government Association (LGA).

Monitoring of Recommendations and Actions

The panel were scheduled to review and comment on the updated tracker of recommendations and associated actions arising from previous meetings. The report included the following recommendations:

• To note the updated recommendations and actions tracker, set out at Appendix 1.
• To comment on the reported progress, seeking clarification or further information as required, and identify any issues where additional scrutiny or follow up activity may be necessary.
• To agree that the monitoring of recommendations and actions will continue to be a standing item on future agendas to ensure ongoing accountability and impact monitoring.

The report noted that regular monitoring of scrutiny recommendations supports transparency, accountability, and helps demonstrate the impact of scrutiny activity, and that robust recommendation tracking and action monitoring is a recognised safeguard against systemic issues.

Partner Updates

The panel were scheduled to receive partner updates. The agenda included the minutes of the Greater Manchester Joint Health Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 17 June 2025 for information.