The Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire met on 1 April 2026 to discuss performance updates from the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) and the current state of community pharmacy services across the county. The committee also reviewed its work programme and received updates on various health initiatives.

East Midlands Ambulance Service Performance Update

Sue Cousland, Lincolnshire Divisional Director for the East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS), presented an update on the division's performance. The report highlighted a new Clinical Director, Dr Steven Dykes, and a link Non-Executive Director, Oliver Newbould. EMAS is responding to the NHS 10-Year Plan by adapting its service model to foster greater collaboration with local healthcare providers and integrating digital-first approaches. The plan focuses on transitioning from hospital to community care, prevention over treatment, and a shift from analogue to digital solutions.

Performance data for the Lincolnshire Division between April 2025 and February 2026 indicated significant delays in ambulance handovers at hospitals, which directly impacted the ability to meet response time targets. Despite these challenges, EMAS is working closely with system partners to improve response times. The report also detailed conveyance activity, showing that EMAS has a higher than national average for Hear and Treat dispositions, meaning more patients are having their issues resolved over the phone without needing an ambulance dispatch. The division's workforce skill mix is improving, with a higher percentage of registered staff. Sickness absence rates in Lincolnshire are below the trust and national averages, which is attributed to proactive, people-centred support from Station Managers. Enhancements to the EMAS Clinical Hubs in Nottingham and Lincoln have been supported by additional funding, allowing clinicians to ascertain the most appropriate care pathway for patients. Quality initiatives include the EMAS Quality Strategy, professional support and learning sessions, and the implementation of an electronic system for managing controlled drugs. The division is also preparing for Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections.

Community Pharmacy Services in Lincolnshire

The committee received reports from both Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire and NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) regarding community pharmacy services. There are 112 community pharmacies in Lincolnshire, all offering the Pharmacy First service, which provides advice and treatment for seven common conditions. The Hypertension Case-Finding service is offered by almost all pharmacies, with Lincolnshire pharmacies showing a higher conversion rate of initial blood pressure checks to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring than the rest of the Midlands. The Contraception service is also widely available, with all but one pharmacy signed up to offer it.

Despite the expansion of these services, both reports highlighted significant challenges facing community pharmacies. They remain underfunded, with the uplift in funding last year being insufficient to cover rising costs, including increased National Living Wage and employers' National Insurance contributions. This financial pressure puts pharmacies at risk of closure, with national reports suggesting up to 63% could close in the next year. Medicines supply issues continue to be a daily struggle, and the House of Lords has called for medicines security to be treated as a national security issue. The restructuring of the NHS ICB into a clustered model is causing some disruption to collaborative working, and it remains unclear how primary care clinician perspectives beyond general practice will be incorporated into local commissioning decisions.

The reports also touched upon the workforce, noting modest improvements in the number of pharmacists but a reduction in qualified pharmacy technicians. However, there has been a significant increase in dispensing assistants undertaking training to become pharmacy technicians. The introduction of independent prescribing for pharmacists is expanding, with five sites in Lincolnshire participating in a pathfinder programme, including a model for managing unavailable medicines. This initiative aims to improve patient access to medication and support the NHS 10-Year Plan.

Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire - Work Programme

The committee reviewed its current and future work programme. Confirmed items for upcoming meetings include updates on Maternity and Neonatal Services, Neighbourhood Health Planning, and Quality Accounts 2026 Outcomes. Items to be programmed include an overview of Hospital Discharge Arrangements, Urgent Treatment Centres in Lincolnshire, Stroke Services at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and the Stamford Health Engagement Exercise. The committee also noted the upcoming clustering arrangements for the NHS Lincolnshire ICB and a five-year strategy update. Further items to be programmed include a joint report from the Lincolnshire Health Resilience Partnership and the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum on the county council's role in emergency preparedness, and an update on Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust's (LPFT) new mental health research unit.

Chairman's Announcements

Councillor Richard Cleaver, Chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee, provided several announcements. An update was given on the Cliff Villages Medical Practice, which temporarily closed due to a CQC registration issue but has since reopened under a caretaker provider. Patients and carers were invited to provide feedback on dispensing services. The committee was also informed about the NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board's (ICB) Cluster Board meetings and encouraged to submit questions. A request for feedback on the ICB's engagement with Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees was also circulated. Finally, the opening of Havenside, a new adult inpatient mental health ward in Boston by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT), was noted, replacing Ward 12 at Pilgrim Hospital.

Other Noted Items

The committee was also informed of several other developments:

• United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (ULTH): Construction is progressing on an extension to the Lincoln Community Diagnostic Centre, and work has begun on the Boston Community Diagnostic Centre. The final proposal for the Patient Services Hub has been published, following consultation, though concerns have been raised by Fishtoft Parish Council regarding workforce changes and the absence of a patient services hub in Boston. Improved cancer care at Lincolnshire hospitals has been noted thanks to a charity gift. Martha's Rule 'Call for Concern' service has been expanded to Lincolnshire's four community hospitals.
• Healthwatch: The Secretary of State has responded to a national petition calling for the abolition of Healthwatch, which is part of wider NHS reforms.

The committee resolved to thank the presenters for their contributions and to continue scrutinising the issues raised. The committee also requested a joint report from the Lincolnshire Health Resilience Partnership and the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum on the County Council's role in emergency preparedness within six months to one year. The Director of Public Health was thanked for presenting information on the 2024 annual report, and the committee recorded its recognition of the progress made, committing to continue scrutinising the issues raised. For the 2025 Annual Report, the committee requested an update in one year and committed to continue scrutinising the issues raised. The committee also agreed to prepare Quality Account Statements for five providers and establish a working group for this purpose. The work programme was noted, subject to the inclusion of items requested during the meeting.