Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 8 October 2025

The meeting began with routine business. Councillors Webb and Hanlon moved, and the Chairman seconded, the resolution that the minutes of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings held on 2 July 2025 and 23 July 2025 were correctly recorded and would be signed. No declarations of interest were made.

A public question was raised by Mr J Bastin of Falmouth concerning the future of ward capacity at Falmouth Community Hospital and whether any reductions might lead to a full closure. The Chairman, speaking on behalf of Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT), reassured the Committee that the hospital remains a vital community asset and that recent investments—including a £500,000 upgrade to X‑ray services and the installation of solar panels—support its continued operation. The Deputy Chief Operating Officer added that while the NHS ten‑year plan anticipates a shift toward more care at home and a gradual adjustment of bed occupancy, there are no imminent plans to close any of the hospital’s 20 beds. The Committee noted that respite care is provided in care homes rather than community hospitals and that any future bed reductions would only occur after a sustained decline in occupancy.

Healthwatch Cornwall’s Chief Executive presented the “Dental Crisis in Cornwall” report, which surveyed over 1,100 residents and 96 dental practices. Key findings included a complete lack of NHS adult dental appointments at the time of the research, 61 % of respondents unaware of how to access NHS dental care, and long waiting lists extending beyond ten years for some patients. The report highlighted recruitment difficulties linked to the Unit of Dental Activity contract and rural cost pressures, as well as significant postcode‑based inequalities affecting children and young people. The Committee welcomed the report, emphasized concerns about the impact on oral health in schools, and urged support for programmes such as the Big Brush Club to improve preventive care.

The South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust outlined proposed changes to community response services, moving from Fire Co‑Responder schemes to Community First Responder (CFR) schemes where feasible. The Trust assured that the transition would not reduce service availability; fire‑led schemes would remain until a functioning CFR scheme is in place. Discussion focused on the distribution of CFR volunteers in remote areas such as the Lizard Peninsula and on the criteria for “appropriate back‑fill” arrangements before any fire‑co‑responder withdrawal. The Trust confirmed that a detailed CFR breakdown is available and that targeted recruitment is underway for priority zones.

Later agenda items addressed wider system integration and service planning. The Integrated Care Board (ICB) reported on the clustering of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with Devon, noting that the formal merger is expected in April 2027 pending legislative approval. The Committee sought clarification on accountability, funding arrangements, and the target of 50 % savings, receiving assurances that performance will be reported separately for Cornwall and that safeguards will protect service delivery. The ICB’s Winter Plan for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly was presented, highlighting priorities such as reducing avoidable admissions, expanding virtual wards, and strengthening community crisis response; While progress has been made, pressure remains on domiciliary care capacity, particularly in the north‑east, prompting an additional £300,000