The Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire met on Wednesday, 1 April 2026, to discuss a range of important health-related issues. Key topics included an update on East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) performance, the current state of community pharmacy services across Lincolnshire, and the committee's future work programme.

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) Performance Update

The committee received an update on the performance of the East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) within the Lincolnshire Division. The report highlighted ongoing efforts to improve response times and hospital handover times, which have been significant challenges. EMAS is working to align with the national vision for ambulance trusts and the NHS 10-Year Plan, focusing on transitioning from hospital to community care, prevention over treatment, and the adoption of digital solutions.

Key performance indicators, including response times for different categories of emergency, were presented. The report detailed the impact of pre-hospital handover delays on the ability to meet response targets, with figures showing significant hours lost due to ambulances waiting to transfer patients to hospital. Efforts to mitigate these delays include the deployment of Clinical Navigators at hospital sites to support the ambulance-emergency department interface.

The workforce update indicated an improving skill mix within the Lincolnshire Division, with an increase in registered staff. Sickness absence rates in Lincolnshire were reported as being lower than the trust average and the national NHS target, which was attributed to proactive, people-centred support for staff health and wellbeing.

Enhancements to EMAS's Clinical Hubs in Nottingham and Lincoln were noted, with additional funding supporting clinicians who can contact patients directly to ascertain the most appropriate care pathway. Quality initiatives include the EMAS Quality Strategy, professional support and learning programmes, and the implementation of an electronic system for managing controlled drugs. The committee was also informed about a 'CQC Readiness' initiative to ensure compliance with Care Quality Commission standards.

Regarding people initiatives, EMAS is developing 'development roles' to support career progression and has secured funding for a Divisional Senior Manager for Transformation to focus on operational delivery and efficiency. The report also highlighted a reduction in violence and aggression incidents against frontline staff in Lincolnshire, though figures remain unacceptably high. Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) efforts include participation in large-scale terrorist attack exercises and high compliance with internal command education.

Community Pharmacy Services in Lincolnshire

The committee received two reports on community pharmacy services in Lincolnshire, one from Community Pharmacy Lincolnshire and another from NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board (ICB). Both reports highlighted the vital role community pharmacies play in the county, offering services such as Pharmacy First, Hypertension Case-Finding, and Pharmacy Contraception services.

However, both reports expressed significant concerns about the financial sustainability of community pharmacies. It was stated that current funding levels are substantially below the estimated cost of running the pharmacy network, with a risk of widespread closures. The National Pharmacy Association warned that up to 63% of pharmacies could close in the next year, and the Community Chemists Association indicated that 99% of pharmacies in England are unsustainable in the long term.

Medicines supply issues were described as a daily battle, with the House of Lords calling for medicines security to be treated as a national security issue. The reports also noted disruption to collaborative working due to national changes requiring the clustering of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), making it unclear how primary care clinician perspectives, beyond general practice, will be incorporated into local decision-making.

Despite these challenges, community pharmacies are actively offering advanced services. All community-based pharmacies in Lincolnshire offer the Pharmacy First service, which allows pharmacists to provide advice and NHS-funded treatment for seven common conditions. The Hypertension Case-Finding service is also offered by almost all pharmacies, with Lincolnshire pharmacies showing a higher conversion rate of initial blood pressure checks to ambulatory monitoring compared to the rest of the Midlands. The Contraception service is also widely available, with almost all pharmacies signed up to offer initiation, ongoing supply, and emergency hormonal contraception.

The reports also touched upon the workforce within community pharmacies, noting modest improvements in the number of pharmacists but a reduction in qualified pharmacy technicians. There is a growing role for pharmacy technicians in service delivery, and newly qualified pharmacists will be independent prescribers from September 2026.

The issue of medicines shortages was extensively discussed, with reference to reports from Community Pharmacy England and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Recommendations included treating medicines security as a national priority, developing a UK-wide medicines supply strategy, strengthening UK manufacturing, and improving early warning systems and data sharing.

The East Midlands Community Pharmacy Strategy aims to position the region as a leader in transforming community pharmacy, reframing it as a frontline clinical and preventative care provider. Commissioning plans for community pharmacy are expected to reflect the ambitions of the NHS 10-Year Plan, focusing on optimising medicines use, improving population health, and integrating with neighbourhood health models.

Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire - Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme for upcoming meetings. Confirmed items for the 13 May 2026 meeting include an update on Maternity and Neonatal Services, including the Equity and Equality Strategy, and a discussion on Neighbourhood Health Planning. The committee also noted items to be programmed, such as an overview of Hospital Discharge Arrangements, Urgent Treatment Centres in Lincolnshire, Stroke Services at United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and a joint report on emergency preparedness.

The committee was asked to consider its approach to the Quality Accounts for 2025-2026, with a working group established to review the accounts of five providers: Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, East Midlands Ambulance Service, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust, Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, and United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The committee agreed to include the Quality Accounts of North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust in the working group's review. A further report on the progress of the Quality Accounts is to be requested following the completion of the working group's remit.

The committee also noted that the work programme would be updated to include items requested during the meeting, such as a potential update report from North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (NLAG) focusing on maternity services, and the inclusion of the Kings Fund update on NHS administration.

The committee resolved to note the Work Programme, subject to the inclusion of items requested during the meeting.