The Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to consider reports on the quality accounts of several NHS trusts, and receive an update on patient transport services. The committee will also review the council's forward plan and its own monitoring report.

Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Quality Accounts

The committee is scheduled to receive and comment on the quality accounts from three NHS trusts: Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust. These accounts are annual reports detailing the quality of services provided, highlighting areas of strength and identifying priorities for improvement. The Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's Quality Account for 2025/2026, for example, outlines priorities such as increasing incident reporting, safer medicines use, reducing lung cancer wait times, and improving patient experience in responding to complaints.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Quality Accounts

Similar to the Newcastle Hospitals report, the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's Quality Account will detail its performance and future quality improvement objectives.

Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust Quality Accounts

The Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust's Quality Account will also be presented, offering insights into their service quality and planned improvements.

North East Ambulance Service – Patient Transport

Colleagues from the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) are expected to attend to discuss patient transport eligibility criteria and concerns regarding patient transport in rural areas. This discussion is scheduled at the request of committee members.

Reports of the Scrutiny Officer

The committee will review the latest Forward Plan of key decisions, which outlines upcoming significant decisions to be made by the council. Additionally, the Health and Wellbeing OSC Monitoring Report for 2025/26 will be considered, providing an overview of the committee's activities and performance during the year.