The North West London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on 18 November 2025 to discuss several key areas of healthcare provision across the region. The meeting focused on dentist commissioning and children's dental health, the future of place-based partnerships, special school nursing, and reviewed the committee's recommendations tracker and work programme.

Dentist Commissioning and Children's Dental Health

The committee received a comprehensive report on dentist commissioning and children's dental health across North West London (NWL). The report highlighted that NWL is one of the highest performing Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) nationally in terms of dental contract delivery, with high percentages of Units of Dental Activity (UDAs) achieved. Additional investment has been made to increase dental access, particularly targeting areas with the highest need. The report also detailed the services provided by Community Dental Services (CDS) for both children and adults, including specialist care for those with complex needs, and outlined the structure of acute dental contracts across London.

Two pilot services have been funded to improve access: one targeting children and young people in Core20Plus areas and those with identified oral health needs, and another supporting individuals in temporary accommodation, including refugees and asylum seekers. These pilots aim to improve access, embed prevention, and test feasible models for inclusion health. Challenges remain regarding the dental workforce, particularly for specialist roles in CDS and secondary care, although London is considered a more attractive location for recruitment compared to other regions.

The Future of Place-Based Partnerships

A report was presented on the development of Place-Based Partnerships (PBPs) across NWL, aiming to integrate services around local needs, reduce inequalities, and improve sustainability. The report outlined a maturity model to support PBPs in assessing their current state and planning for development, with the ambition that by April 2026, all boroughs will operate as mature PBPs with shared strategic priorities, integrated neighbourhood teams, clear accountability, and coordinated resources. The report detailed the progress made by individual boroughs, such as Hillingdon's integrated neighbourhood teams and Brent's focus on tackling inequality. It also defined the roles and responsibilities of various partners, including the ICB, lead providers, all providers, and local authorities, in enabling these partnerships. The role of the 'Integrator' function was also discussed, focusing on operational coordination, driving equity, facilitating population health management, and supporting infrastructure.

Special School Nursing and Update on SEN Provisions

An update was provided on the current position of Special School Nursing provisions across NWL. The report detailed a collaborative approach to developing a Core Offer for community services, aiming to reduce variation and drive service consistency. This includes standardising service specifications, improving joint governance, and enhancing productivity. For Special School Nursing specifically, a review process is underway to develop a consistent service specification, including a shared care/delegation model aligned with national guidance. This involves demand and capacity mapping, agreeing outcome measures, engaging stakeholders such as Directors of Children's Services and special schools, and reviewing workforce capacity. Challenges include potential resistance from schools to the proposed changes, the adequacy of current Continuing Healthcare Framework funding for in-school and home support, and the need for agreement between ICBs and education commissioners on delegation models. An engagement work plan is in place to involve various stakeholders, including Designated Clinical Officers for SEND, Directors of Children's Services, special schools, and parent/carer forums.

North West London JHOSC Recommendations Tracker

The committee reviewed the recommendations tracker for the 2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26 municipal years. This tracker details scrutiny recommendations and information requests made by the committee, along with the responses and current status from NHS bodies. Key items discussed included updates on acute bed capacity, the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre relocation, ophthalmology service standardisation, musculoskeletal services, palliative and end-of-life care, mental health provision for children and young people, primary care access models, and the reconfiguration of the ICB. The tracker also noted information requests regarding the Health Equity Fund allocation, prescription cost support, and the new ICB structure.

North West London JHOSC 2025/26 Work Programme

The committee confirmed its work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year. The programme outlines the health policy areas the committee plans to review, focusing on scrutinising the plans for meeting health needs and arranging health services across NW London, particularly concerning the actions of the North West London Integrated Care System and its Integrated Care Board. The confirmed meeting dates and the agenda items for each meeting were presented, demonstrating a commitment to ongoing scrutiny of key healthcare developments in the region.