NORTH YORKSHIRE COUNCIL

12 November 2025

STATEMENT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SCRUTINY OF HEALTH COMMITTEE

COUNCILLOR ANDREW LEE

The Scrutiny of Health Committee has a responsibility to review any matter relating to the planning, provision and operation of health services within the county, including Ambulance Trusts and the policies of the Health and Care Partnerships.  A key part of that responsibility is requiring NHS bodies to consult health scrutiny on proposals for substantial developments or variations to local health service provision.  The committee contributes to annual health checks by providing feedback to the Integrated Care Boards and the NHS Trusts serving North Yorkshire on their performance and the experiences that the committee has had with them.

Since the last Council meeting in July 2025, the committee met in person on 3 October, to consider the following items:

Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board – Annual Report 2024-25

The Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) reported notable progress during 2024–25, despite ongoing structural uncertainty.  Improvements were seen in urgent and emergency care, elective waiting times, and cancer diagnostics, supported by developments such as the Catterick Integrated Care Centre and new diagnostic hubs in Ripon and Scarborough.  Scrutiny of Health members discussed primary care triage systems, transport access to new facilities, and equity concerns regarding diagnostic provision in Harrogate.  Integrated neighbourhood health initiatives were welcomed, alongside efforts to address NHS dentistry gaps, early onset dementia, and delayed hospital discharges.  The ICB continues to assess ten priority indicators annually and remains committed to stakeholder engagement amid proposed governance changes.  Changes arising from the national 10-year plan remain a key area of interest for Scrutiny of Health.

Tees, Esk, and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust - Progress Update Report

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) provided an update on progress following recent Care Quality Commission inspections, highlighting improvements in inpatient care, governance, and patient safety.  Members welcomed reductions in out-of-area placements and noted completed works at Roseberry House.  Concerns were raised regarding delays in accessing care, particularly for young people awaiting ADHD assessments, with pathway improvements underway in collaboration with the ICB.  Appraisal compliance was clarified, and plans for mental health hubs in Scarborough and Ryedale were confirmed, with a third site under consideration.  The Trust reaffirmed its commitment to co-production and continuous improvement as part of its five-year transformation programme.

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Renal Services

Update

In response to queries raised by residents, the committee heard a presentation on Renal Services from Trust representatives, outlining current service models including dialysis, transplant follow-up, and conservative care, alongside rising demand for renal replacement therapies. Data from the Renal Registry highlighted demographic pressures and the need for sustainable, patient-centred planning. Members raised concerns about geographic coverage and travel times, particularly in rural areas, and suggested reviewing neighbouring trust reports to identify service gaps. The Trust confirmed collaboration with primary care on public awareness and prevention.

Prostate Cancer Screening and Awareness - Notice of Motion

Scrutiny of Health was asked to consider a Notice of Motion on prostate cancer screening, which was raised at Council in July.  While acknowledging prostate cancer as a significant concern, members noted that current screening methods, particularly PSA testing, do not meet national criteria for population-wide programmes due to risks of overdiagnosis and false positives.  North Yorkshire Council’s existing awareness efforts were recognised, and members supported a balanced approach that prioritises expert guidance from the National Screening Committee and Prostate Cancer UK.  Consensus was reached on the value of targeted awareness and a timely review of emerging screening evidence, and an amended Motion was referred to this meeting of the Council for a decision.

Committee Work Programme

The next meeting of the committee will be at 10:00 on Monday 8 December when the items currently scheduled for discussion include:

· Digitisation of Patient Records – Implementation Review

· Airedale Hospital Update

· Humber and North Yorkshire ICB - Clinical Optimisation Programme

COUNCILLOR ANDREW LEE