Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 7 January 2026

The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee began by noting that there were no declarations of interest and, after a motion moved by Councillor Creek and seconded by Councillor Hanlon, formally approved the minutes of the 5 November 2025 meeting. The Chair responded to a public‑engagement query from Mr N Morson about current waiting times for care‑home places and domestic‑care support packages, highlighting that Cornwall’s acute‑trust discharge delays average 0.75 days and that complex‑case delays (6.18 days) remain below the regional average (7.72 days). The Service Director, People Commissioning, added that the Trust’s recent designation as Segment 1 in the NHS England System Oversight Framework places it among the best‑performing trusts nationally. The Committee also discussed the six‑month delay in receiving the Care Quality Commission’s draft inspection report for adult social care; a decision will be taken on entering a Section 75 Agreement with the Integrated Care Board for a pooled after‑care fund, and the Chair and Vice‑Chair will write to Andrew George MP to raise concerns about the CQC reporting timeline.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Partnerships announced the formation of the Age‑Friendly Cornwall steering group, whose first meeting is scheduled for 13 January 2026. The group will set priorities across health, transport and housing and will pursue a lottery‑funding application to support its work, which would not create additional cost for the Council if successful. The Minister for Dentistry’s response was noted as encouraging, and the Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock MP, was referenced for his statements on the need for additional funding for adult social care within the broader health‑care integration agenda.

A separate report on sexual‑health services outlined a ten‑year, £36.5 million contract funded entirely from the ring‑fenced Public Health Grant. The contract is divided into four service lots (clinical, digital, young‑people’s services, community outreach) and targets include reducing under‑18 conceptions, STI rates and improving contraception access. During the discussion members raised concerns about electronic‑record privacy, the importance of maintaining in‑person clinics for vulnerable groups, and the rollout of PrEP and HIV testing initiatives. The Chair highlighted that digital services now deliver about 70 % of sexual‑health activity, that the tendering process was open and transparent, and that efforts are ongoing to reduce stigma, improve outreach and integrate services with the NHS app.

The Independent Chair of the Cornwall Safeguarding Adults Board presented its three‑year strategic plan, emphasizing priorities such as carers, self‑neglect, safeguarding culture and transitions from children’s to adult services. In the reporting period 13 357 safeguarding concerns were raised, 17 Safeguarding Adults Adult reviews were open (three published), and 90 % of desired outcomes for individuals were achieved. Discussion focused on the rise in reported concerns—attributed partly to improved data capture and awareness campaigns—low prosecution rates, and the need for continued public‑awareness work and partnership with health, education and emergency