The Healthy and Safe Communities Scrutiny Panel met on Wednesday 18 March 2026 to discuss significant updates on mental health services transformation, the improvement of maternity services at North Middlesex University Hospital, and the ongoing measles epidemic in Enfield. The panel also reviewed the Health and Wellbeing Board's annual report and performance data from the Safer Stronger Communities Board.

Mental Health Services Transformation

Andrew Wright, Chief of Staff, and Gary Passaway, Managing Director of the North London NHS Foundation Trust (NLFT), provided an update on the Trust's mental health transformation programme. They highlighted organisational changes, including the planned integration of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, and acknowledged the financial pressures facing mental health services nationally. Locally, Enfield is seeing the rollout of a borough-wide dementia pathway and a new Older Adults Home Treatment Team at Chase Farm Hospital. A new 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service is also set to open at Chase Farm, offering an alternative to Accident and Emergency departments. The panel was informed that waiting times for talking therapies in Enfield are now measured in weeks, an improvement attributed to sustained work. Discussions also covered the national reduction in NHS spending allocated to mental health and the redirection of funding towards digital infrastructure and preventative programmes. The panel noted that specialist CAMHS waiting times remain a national issue due to a shortage of clinicians. An action was agreed for NLFT to explore potential training opportunities within the new Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service.

North Middlesex University Hospital - Update Following CQC Inspections

Manjit Roseghini, Director of Midwifery and Gynaecology Nursing at North Middlesex University Hospital, presented an update on the Trust's maternity services. Following an 'Inadequate' rating in 2023, the service has improved to a 'Requires Improvement' rating as of January 2025, reflecting significant progress. The CQC identified three regulatory breaches relating to safe care and treatment, governance, and staffing. The Trust has implemented a detailed action plan to address these, with all identified actions from both the 2023 and 2025 inspections now reported as completed. Key improvements include strengthened triage processes, enhanced incident governance, and increased mandatory training compliance. Outstanding priorities include further development of bereavement facilities and embedding cultural and safety improvements. The panel heard that the Trust has implemented a new electronic patient record system and seen improvements in triage safety and parent education.

Health and Wellbeing Board Annual Report

Councillor Alev Cazimoglu, Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care, introduced the annual report of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Board. The report outlines progress against the board's three priority areas: 'Start Well' (supporting children and young people's emotional wellbeing and mental health), 'Live Well' (supporting residents to manage major conditions), and 'Age Well' (preventing age-related ill health). The report highlighted strong cross-sector collaboration, the development of a comprehensive outcomes framework, and the completion of the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment. Seventeen actions within the action plan have shown positive progress, with two moving negatively due to funding and resourcing constraints. The panel discussed the promotion of services for young people, the impact of the Healthy Catering Commitment, and the need for clearer messaging on the severity of measles. An action was agreed for the Director of Public Health to provide a list of key health information sites and resources used to promote services, and to supply data on mental health school drop-ins. The feasibility of a public-facing healthy catering rating scheme was also to be explored.

SSCB Performance Management - Monitoring Update

Jonathon Toy, Head of Community Safety, presented the Safer Stronger Communities Board's performance report. He reported a 4.2% decrease in total crime in Enfield over the past 12 months, equating to approximately 1,200 fewer offences. Significant reductions were noted in knife crime, particularly offences involving young victims, and in non-domestic violence with injury. However, robbery levels showed no reduction, contrasting with a London-wide decrease. The rise in drug offences was attributed to proactive enforcement under Operation Pisces, which has led to the closure of over 40 drug lines. The panel discussed challenges around transport hubs and the rise of organised robberies targeting mobile phones. The growing issue of AI-driven misinformation and its potential to fuel conflict among young people was also raised. The proactive policing model used in Operation Pisces is being considered for application in other areas.

Update on Measles Epidemic in Enfield

Dudu Sher-Arami, Director of Public Health, provided an update on the measles outbreak in Enfield. She explained that cases have risen due to persistently low vaccination coverage, with London's average MMR uptake for the second dose at around 70% and Enfield's at 64.3%. The outbreak has triggered a coordinated response involving the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and local partners. Extensive communication efforts have been undertaken, leading to a marked increase in residents seeking MMR vaccination, with February seeing the highest number of doses administered since 2014. Planned actions include commissioning training for community leaders and non-clinical staff to engage residents about vaccination, working with voluntary sector organisations in areas with the lowest uptake, and exploring options for running vaccination clinics in places of worship. The panel discussed the responsibilities for notifying families about vaccinations, the role of opportunistic vaccination, and the extent to which vaccine hesitancy contributes to low uptake. The possibility of mandatory vaccination for school entry and requiring schools to ask for vaccination records at enrolment were also raised.

Work Programme

The completion of the Healthy & Safe Communities Scrutiny Panel Work Programme for 2025/26 was noted. The dates of future meetings will be confirmed following Annual Council on Wednesday 27 May 2026.