The Health Scrutiny Committee met on Friday 20 March 2026 to discuss updates on patient experience scrutiny, the reconfiguration of the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), and to review the committee's work programme. Key discussions included concerns about digital exclusion in accessing GP services, the integration of patient records, and the impact of the new, larger Central East ICB on service delivery and patient referrals. The committee discussed its work programme for the upcoming year, with proposed items including palliative care, community care provision, and gambling harms.

Patient Experience Scrutiny Review 2025 Update

The committee received an update on outstanding actions from the 2025 Patient Experience Scrutiny Review. A significant portion of the discussion focused on digital inclusion and access to services. Councillors expressed concern that patients without digital access were not being adequately supported, with some reporting being told they had to access services digitally. While the ICB stated that telephone and walk-in options remain available, and that practices are working to support patients with digital access, concerns were raised about the consistency of this support across different GP practices. The issue of patient records and interoperability was also discussed, with an appendix providing a detailed response on the progress and challenges of achieving full end-to-end digital record transfer. Mitigations for patient safety were outlined, including clinical hazard logs and risk registers. The committee also received an update on Carer Champions, noting that while there isn't a mandated job description or training standard, the ICB has developed system-wide guidance and aspirations for the role, aiming to embed carer-aware practices within existing teams. The report highlighted the significant impact of caring roles on health and wellbeing, with data showing carers are more likely to have long-term health conditions and mental health issues than non-carers.

Reconfiguration of the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board

A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to the reconfiguration of the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB into the new, larger Central East ICB, which will cover a population of 3.5 million people. Dominic Woodward-Lebihan, Director for ICB Transformation (Central East), explained that this change is driven by a national policy to reduce ICB running costs by 50% and to focus ICBs on strategic commissioning. He assured the committee that the new organisation would be guided by the question: what best serves our population? and would aim to improve patient experience by simplifying care pathways, shifting resources towards interventions that demonstrably improve outcomes, and enhancing financial sustainability. Concerns were raised by councillors about how this larger footprint would affect local service delivery, patient referrals, and whether patients would still feel listened to. The committee was assured that existing partnerships would be preserved and that the new ICB would work closely with local authorities and public health. Ed Knowles, Director of Neighbourhood Health and Partnerships for Hertfordshire, confirmed that a specific Neighbourhood Health Delivery Committee for Hertfordshire would be established as a subcommittee of the ICB Board. The committee also discussed the potential vulnerabilities arising from such a large-scale reorganisation and the importance of retaining organisational knowledge.

Health Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025-26

The committee discussed its work programme for the upcoming year. Tim Parlow, Head of Scrutiny, outlined proposed items for the May meeting, including palliative and end-of-life care in Hertfordshire and changes to community care provision. Councillor Dee Hart raised concerns about phlebotomy waiting times in the Borough of Broxbourne, which had extended to six weeks, and requested immediate urgent improvements. The committee noted these concerns regarding phlebotomy services across the county. Several new items were proposed for inclusion, including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), public health in relation to gambling harms, and GP facilities in new housing developments. Councillor Neil Tester suggested a focused look at neighbourhood health as a potential overarching theme for scrutiny. Councillor Chris Lloyd proposed that the committee consider whether some items might be better addressed through a briefing rather than a full scrutiny session. Councillor Nigel Bell requested a review of the progress on the gambling harms scrutiny from several years prior. Councillor Brown raised concerns about the health and wellbeing of young adults aged 22 who had experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee noted comments on prioritisation and method regarding the work programme.

The meeting concluded with a summary of all items to be reported to the County Council and the date of the next meeting was set for 15 May 2026.