Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 15 July 2026

The Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on 20 May 2026, approving the minutes of the previous meeting. One public question was received from Mr B Kay of Boscastle regarding social prescribing funding for the Two Bays Trust. The Vice Chairman provided a response on behalf of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB), stating that organisations seeking NHS funding must engage with relevant commissioning and procurement processes. Mr Kay was advised he could also raise his question at a public meeting of the ICB.

Cabinet Members presented reports on adult social care and public health. The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Partnerships noted that Cornwall had achieved a 'Good' CQC rating (70%), making it the highest performing adult social care authority in the South West. A continuous improvement plan and revised transformation programme are under development. On public health, the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health highlighted progress on a forthcoming Dentistry Summit and mental health initiatives. Members raised concerns about reductions in community pharmacy provision, particularly in St Ives and west Cornwall, with the ICB acknowledging gaps and considering population growth.

The Committee received an update on the potential merger of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB with NHS Devon. Officers confirmed that a submission had been made to NHS England supporting continuation of the joint footprint, with a likely merger from April 2027 subject to national decisions. Members expressed concerns that local opposition and Cornwall's record of innovation could be diluted in a larger organisation. Officers confirmed that all relevant correspondence, including from MPs, Healthwatch, and the Committee, had been included in the engagement response.

The Committee discussed vaccination and immunisation programmes, noting that local uptake rates were generally at or above the England average but remained below World Health Organization targets, with inequalities persisting in deprived and rural communities. On urgent care, the Director of Primary Care outlined plans to redesign neighbourhood-based "on the day" care to simplify access and improve integration. The Chief Operating Officer of Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust reported that despite improvements in ambulance handover times, corridor care remained an issue due to patient flow and delayed discharges. The Committee requested a further update in six months and will receive recommendations from a Task and Finish Group on Patient Flow and Discharge.