The Health Scrutiny Committee of Hertfordshire Council met on Friday 19 September 2025 to discuss the proposed Hemel Hempstead Health Campus development and to review the committee's work programme for the upcoming year. Key discussions included the progress of the Hemel Hempstead Health Campus development, with a focus on community engagement and the proposed options for a new town centre facility, and the committee's forward planning, including potential topics for scrutiny and the methods for addressing them.

Hemel Hempstead Health Campus Development Update

The committee received a detailed update on the proposed Hemel Hempstead Health Campus development, a joint project between West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), and Dacorum Borough Council. The aim is to create a modern, flexible health facility in the town centre, consolidating services and shifting focus towards early intervention and prevention, with a particular emphasis on reducing health inequalities.

Sheena Phillips, Hemel Health Campus Programme Director, and Toby Hyde, Chief Strategy and Co-Collaboration Officer of West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, presented the report. They outlined the vision for the new facility, which includes integrating hospital, GP, pharmacy, community physical and mental health, and social care services. The development is intended to provide care closer to home through multidisciplinary teams, coordinate urgent care services, and be a catalyst for redesigning local health and care services.

The report detailed the extensive engagement undertaken with local residents, patient groups, and stakeholders, highlighting that while there is general support for the new care model, concerns remain regarding parking provision, the capacity of the Market Square site, and the long wait for progress. Five options for the development are being considered within the Strategic Outline Case (SOC), ranging from maintaining the current Hemel Hempstead Hospital site to a new build on Market Square, with or without retaining the Verulam Wing.

Councillors raised several points, including concerns about car parking and public transport links, waiting times for phlebotomy and physiotherapy services, and the importance of digital inclusion for all residents. The need for better integration of IT systems across different health services was also emphasised. The representatives from the NHS Trust and ICB acknowledged these concerns, explaining that detailed modelling for parking and transport is underway, and that efforts are being made to improve waiting times. They also highlighted the balance required between digital and face-to-face care, particularly for older residents.

The discussion also touched upon the complementary nature of the Hemel Hempstead development with other hospital redevelopments at Watford General Hospital and St Albans City Hospital, with assurances that these are not in competition but part of a wider strategy to improve healthcare across the region. The importance of parity of esteem between mental and physical health was also stressed, with plans to co-locate mental health services within the new facility.

Concerns were also raised about the financial viability of the project and the potential for delays, drawing parallels with the prolonged redevelopment of Watford General Hospital. The representatives stated that a funding model would be developed as part of the SOC and that they were hopeful for clarity on capital funding in the new year. The review of community and rehabilitation beds, expected by the end of the calendar year, will influence decisions on whether rehabilitation beds will be included in the new Hemel facility.

The committee was invited to raise questions regarding the redevelopment proposals and the engagement activity supporting the SOC. Following the discussion, the committee noted the report and the recommendations. Updates on phlebotomy services and the review of community beds were also confirmed for future meetings.

Health Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025-26

The committee reviewed its work programme for 2025-26, a fluid document designed to reflect the issues affecting Hertfordshire residents. Tim Parlow, Head of Scrutiny, presented the proposed themes and activities, which include evidence gathering sessions, scrutiny reviews, bulletins, and webinars.

Several new items were proposed and discussed for inclusion in the work programme. These included:

• An update on mental health services from Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT), focusing on the Care Quality Commission's special review and the trust's transformation programme.
• A review of the development of new GP surgeries and the use of Section 106 developer contributions to improve GP provision.
• An examination of the roll-out of e-consultation at GP surgeries and digital health apps.
• An update on Type II Diabetes provision and effectiveness.
• A review of phlebotomy services, including clarification of commissioning and delivery arrangements.
• The reconfiguration of male learning disability secure beds.
• An examination of generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems used within Hertfordshire NHS Trusts.
• A review of palliative and end-of-life care in Hertfordshire.
• Continued scrutiny of maternity services.
• An update on the closure of the Urgent Care Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital and its impact on Hertfordshire residents.
• A focus on mental health provision and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
• A scrutiny review into gambling harms, including an update on the strategy and recommendations.
• A discussion on the effectiveness and integration of alcohol support services across the county.
• An examination of obesity and the impact of new weight-loss drugs.
• A specific analysis of health inequalities for individuals with learning disabilities and those from the global majority.
• A review of ambulance services, following recent national performance rankings.

The committee agreed to note the officer updates and any comments on prioritisation and methods. The next meeting was scheduled for 10 November 2025.