Report to:

East Sussex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC)

 

Date of meeting:

 

26 June 2025

By:

Deputy Chief Executive

 

Title:

Work Programme

 

Purpose:

To agree the Committee’s work programme

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee is recommended to review its work programme at Appendix 1 and agree any updates needed.

1.         Background

1.1       The work programme contains the proposed agenda items for future HOSC meetings and is included on the agenda for review at each committee meeting. It is an important tool in ensuring the correct focus and best use of the Committee’s time in scrutinising topics that are of importance to the residents of East Sussex.

1.2       There are currently significant changes being made to the ways in which the NHS is governed and being run. Some key changes for the Committee to be aware of include:

·         Reductions in Integrated Care Board (ICB) and provider Trust running costs – the ICB and provider Trusts are required to reduce their running costs during the current financial year, and this may result in changes to the ways in which some services are commissioned and delivered.

·         Abolition of NHS England (NHSE) – for it to be brought into the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) over the next 18 months, with specific details yet to be announced.

·         NHS 10-year plan – expected to be published soon, it will focus on three key shifts in healthcare: hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention.

1.3       In the context of these reforms, as well as the delivery of other key local and national priorities, now is a timely opportunity for the Committee to review its work programme and decide which topics it considers to be a priority for residents and communities in East Sussex, and determine the agenda items for future meetings accordingly.

1.4       This report also provides an update on any other work going on outside the Committee’s main meetings.

 

2.    Work programme

2.1.        The Committee is asked to review the items in the current work programme, attached as Appendix 1 to this report, and discuss the future agenda items and other scrutiny work of the Committee for inclusion in the Committee’s future work programme based on current priorities for scrutiny and the NHS.

2.2.        The Committee is asked to consider any future reports or other work items that it wishes to add to the work programme, and whether to schedule or remove any of the items listed under the “Items to be Scheduled” section of the work programme for future meetings to be held later in the municipal year.

 

3.    Other activity

3.1.        The Joint HOSC Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) Liaison Group, which receives updates on the Trust’s performance and undertakes horizon scanning of emerging issues continues to meet regularly.  Membership: Cllrs Belsey and Robinson

3.2.        Two training events for HOSC members, run jointly with the West Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council Health Scrutiny Committees, have been arranged for Autumn 2025. These will provide a refresher on key scrutiny skills, and the opportunity to consider health scrutiny as the above outlined reforms progress.

 

3          Conclusion and reasons for recommendations

3.1       The work programme sets out HOSC’s work both during formal meetings and outside of them. The committee is asked to consider its priorities in the context of NHS reforms and agree an updated work programme.

 

PHILIP BAKER
Deputy Chief Executive

Contact Officer: Patrick Major, Scrutiny and Policy Adviser

Telephone: 07701258227
Email: patrick.major@eastsussex.gov.uk