The Health and Social Care Select Committee of Hillingdon Council met on Wednesday, 03 December 2025, to discuss updates on Hillingdon Hospitals, the council's budget and spending, and the Cabinet Forward Plan. Key discussions included the redevelopment of Hillingdon Hospital, performance of local health services, and the financial health of adult social care.

Hillingdon Hospitals Redevelopment and Performance

Jason Seez, Deputy Chief Executive of Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, provided an update on the hospital's redevelopment project. The project is progressing through design stages, with a revised design compliant with the national Hospital 2.0 principles. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2028, with the new hospital opening to patients towards the end of 2032. Seez also highlighted improvements in the Trust's performance, particularly in Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC), where Hillingdon Hospital is now a top performer in London. However, the Trust's rating on the NHS Oversight Framework remains a concern, particularly regarding patient safety, which has been impacted by infection prevention and control issues.

Councillor Tony Burles raised concerns about staff car parking during the redevelopment, and Councillor Kelly Martin questioned the security of the timelines given potential changes in government policy.

The committee also heard from Dr. Richard Grocott Mason, Chief Executive of the Heart, Lung & Critical Care Clinical Group at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, which includes Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals. He detailed challenges with waiting times for cardiac surgery and lung cancer treatments, attributing them to a combination of high demand, staff shortages, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, the transplant service is thriving, and Harefield Hospital has been recognised as an ARC centre for lung assessment and reconditioning.

Integrated Health and Social Care Services

Keith Spencer, from Hillingdon Health and Care Partners (HHCP), presented an update on the place-based transformation programme, focusing on integrated neighbourhood teams (INTs), reactive care, and Best Start in Life initiatives. Significant progress has been made in reducing Emergency Department (ED) attendances, with Hillingdon being the only borough in North West London to show a reduction compared to the previous winter. Improvements in hospital flow have also been noted, with a reduction in No Criteria to Reside (NC2R) delays.

Dr. Ritu Prasad, from the Hillingdon GP Confederation, highlighted the role of community pharmacies in the Pharmacy First scheme, which has seen a significant number of consultations and referrals, diverting low-acuity demand from GP practices and urgent care. The scheme allows pharmacies to prescribe antibiotics for certain conditions, a change that has been positively received.

Councillor Sital Punja raised concerns about the high number of children's neurodevelopmental referrals and the potential impact of funding changes. Sue Jeffers from the North West London Integrated Care Board (ICB) explained that the ICB is merging with North Central London ICB and that engagement with local authorities will be crucial in shaping the new, larger ICB.

Budget and Spending Report

Sandra Taylor, Corporate Director of Adult Services and Health, presented the Adult Social Care budget and spending report. The committee noted a £5.1 million overspend at period six, with significant pressures identified in care contracts and Section 117 funding negotiations with the NHS. Despite the overspend, the report indicated that Hillingdon's adult social care services are providing good value for money, with low costs compared to neighbouring boroughs.

Councillor Punja raised concerns about the robustness of financial modelling and requested more detailed variance analysis. Matt Davis, from finance, outlined the formal processes in place for budget setting, including a proposal form for all changes and challenge sessions to review key data variables.

The committee also discussed the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in adult social care, with Magic Notes being piloted to assist social workers with recording and translations.

Cabinet Forward Plan and Work Programme

The committee noted the Cabinet Forward Plan, which outlines future decisions to be made by the Cabinet. Councillor Nick Denys, Chair of the committee, suggested that the HHCP Place Based Service Delivery item in the January work programme might need to be moved to February due to the meeting already being busy with the CAMHS update and budget discussions. The committee also agreed to revisit the topic of CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) in January, with an update on the implementation of recommendations from a previous review.

Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals

Dr. Richard Grocott Mason provided an update on Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, highlighting excellent outcomes for thoracic surgery, with a mortality rate significantly lower than the national average. However, challenges remain in reducing waiting times for cardiac surgery and meeting the demand for lung cancer treatments. The hospital is also developing a life sciences campus on the Harefield site. Councillor Martin noted the remarkable work done at Harefield despite its size and the challenges of operating outside of standard hours.

Other Discussions

Councillor Bassett raised concerns about fairer funding for adult social care, noting that while Hillingdon's spending per older adult is lower than the national average, some wards within the borough are highly deprived. Sandra Taylor explained that the allocation of funding is based on need and eligibility criteria, and that the council is advocating for fairer funding from the government.

Councillor Martin questioned the cost-effectiveness of outsourcing social care services, and Sandra Taylor confirmed that bringing some services back in-house, through the council's own care company, is currently proving to be a more cost-effective model.

The committee also discussed the high number of children's neurodevelopmental referrals, with additional funding secured to address the backlog. The importance of public engagement and education on available health services was also emphasized.

The meeting concluded with thanks to all the health partners who attended and presented. The committee noted that the next meeting in January would focus on budget setting and a CAMHS update.