The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Joint Health Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 30 April 2026 to discuss several key healthcare issues affecting the region. The meeting included an update on the decision-making process for the relocation of births from St Mary's Birth Centre, a report on the Speech and Language Therapy Service, and a review of the committee's work programme.

Update on St Mary's Birth Centre

The committee received an update on the decision-making process regarding the relocation of births from St Mary's Birth Centre. The Integrated Care Board (ICB) presented a report confirming that a sound and lawful decision-making process was followed, which included a comprehensive body of evidence, a targeted engagement programme, and consideration of patient safety, workforce, and financial sustainability. The ICB Board had met on 19 March 2026 to consider this, and had decided not to defer the decision, stating that no new information was anticipated that would materially alter the position. The committee was invited to note the ICB's decision-making process, the consideration of the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee's request to defer, and the final decision.

The report highlighted that the decision-making framework adhered to statutory duties under the NHS Act 2006, the Equality Act 2010, and the Public Sector Equality Duty. Legal advice had confirmed that the 2021 public consultation and decision to relocate births remained lawful. Evidence presented to the Board included clinical safety, workforce sustainability, activity, financial data, and national policy, alongside engagement findings. An Equality Impact Assessment and Quality Impact Assessment were also completed, identifying negative impacts such as travel and rural access, but concluding the decision was objectively justified in the context of safety and sustainability.

Public engagement had focused on those most affected, including women, families, and staff, using various methods. The ICB committed to meeting with the Save St Mary's Birth Centre campaign group to discuss ongoing concerns and how feedback could inform future service planning. The decision was taken at an ICB Board meeting held in public in Melton, with a representative from the Save St Mary's Birth Centre campaign group invited to address the Board.

Speech and Language Therapy Service in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

The committee received a report providing information on Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) Services for children and young people (aged 0-18) across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland, delivered by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT). The report detailed the Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) programme, which began in September 2023 with Department for Education and NHSE funding. ELSEC aims to build an improved system-wide offer for children aged 0-11 with speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN). To date, almost 1000 children have received timely support, diverting them from NHS waiting lists.

LPT's SLT service provides assessment, diagnosis, and intervention for various SLCN, with a focus on early identification and building capacity within early years and school settings. The report indicated that referral to assessment performance had been consistently strong, with a dip in 2024 due to resource reallocation, which was later reversed. The number of children on the caseload for further treatment was noted, with a goal of keeping this below 4,000 per month. The report highlighted that programmes like ELSEC are already reducing specialist demand.

The report also outlined the system plan for SLT services, aligning with the SEND Reforms and the Experts at Hand offer, which aims to strengthen mainstream education settings' capability to support children with SEND. The LLR ELSEC model is intended to be scaled up, particularly to address health inequalities related to early speech, language, and communication needs. Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust is involved in developing a 3-year SEND Reform Plan with a focus on improving speech, language, and communication outcomes for young children.

Questions, Representations and Statements of Case

Several questions were raised by councillors regarding various healthcare services. Councillor Ramsey Ross submitted questions concerning progress on staffing and alternative provision at the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) Accident and Emergency (A&E) department, including reductions in agency staff, increases in medical staff, and sickness rates. Questions were also posed about the utilisation of NHS111 services, the Merlyn Vaz Centre, mental health provision, the role of councils in addressing discharge issues, ambulance waiting times, and out-of-area patient discharge. Additionally, Councillor Ross inquired about the NHS Dentistry Provision crisis and the LLR-ICB's representations regarding the accreditation of foreign-qualified dentists.

Councillor Zuffar Haq submitted questions regarding the creation of a Maggie's Cancer Centre in Leicester and why people in the region might be missing out on cancer treatment and support.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme for 2025-26. Key upcoming items include a deep dive into longer waits at the Emergency Department and for ambulances, a digital focus, a year-end review, and discussions on dentistry. Future topics also include ambulance service and wait times, GP access, the system approach to stroke, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and Speech and Language Therapy (SALT). The committee noted that GP access was scheduled as a future work programme item, with concerns raised about ongoing difficulties in securing appointments and the potential for a two-tier system. The committee agreed that the LLR ICB would confirm to the next Joint Health Scrutiny Committee that all GP practices accept telephone appointment bookings, potentially through a secret shopper exercise.