Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from:

·         Councillor Alyson Baker, with Councillor Mark Crane substituting.

·         Councillor Nick Brown, with Councillor Caroline Goodrick substituting.

·         Councillor David Noland, with Councillor Andy Brown substituting.

·         Councillor Andy Solloway, with Councillor Stuart Parsons substituting.

All Members are invited to declare at this point any interests they have in items appearing on this agenda, including the nature of those interests.

There were no declarations of interest.

Members of the public may ask questions or make statements at this meeting if they have given notice to Edward Maxwell of Democratic Services and supplied the text (contact details below) by midday on Tuesday 5 May, three working days before the day of the meeting.  Each speaker should limit themselves to 3 minutes on any item.  Members of the public who have given notice will be invited to speak:

·         at this point in the meeting if their questions/statements relate to matters which are not otherwise on the Agenda (subject to an overall time limit of 30 minutes)

·         when the relevant Agenda item is being considered if they wish to speak on a matter which is on the Agenda for this meeting.

If you are exercising your right to speak at this meeting, but do not wish to be recorded, please inform the Chairman who will instruct anyone who may be taking a recording to cease while you speak.

Seven statements were received, which were read to the committee ahead of the consideration of Item 4:

• Richard Good
• Hannah Waggett
• Deborah Kerrigan
• Rob Macdonald
• Councillor Jill McMullon
• Dr Valerie Taylor
• Margret Feetham

Statement submitted by Richard Good

My name is Richard Good.  I am a resident of Reeth and a former District Councillor for Upper Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.

I would like to begin by welcoming you to our 200-square-mile patch of the Yorkshire Dales.  For many of you this may be your first visit to our two dales, and I very much hope it will not be your last.

The Facebook post on 2 April announcing that Reeth Medical Practice had been earmarked for closure sent shockwaves through our communities – especially coming just eight weeks before the planned end-of-May deadline.

Dr Mike Brookes, his wife Marie, and their team served this community brilliantly for 18 years.  Their dedication and care are something for which we are extremely grateful, and I think I speak for everyone when I saw we wish them well in their retirement.

We now know that, as required, they gave six months’ notice back in November. After four months of silence from the ICB, the news of the closure finally emerged. Patients were to be dispersed elsewhere, travelling on roads that everyone who lives locally knows are impassable for much of the year. That proposed solution appears to have been reached without a single conversation with a single patient. It reveals a startling lack of understanding of both the level of need here and the realities of the geography. The ICB failed to grasp that closing Reeth Medical Practice and dispersing patients wouldn’t just be unwise – it would be unsafe.

Within days, the community responded.  A local group formed, parish councillors came together, and a patient survey reached more than 75% of patients in less than ten days.  Calls were made, letters written, and media coverage quickly followed. From the outset, the message was clear: this community was not prepared to lose local access to primary care without a fight.

Increasingly, when you live in a rural place like this, protecting access to essential services is something people like us must be prepared to do.  Whether it’s our school, our buses, the local pub, or school transport, key services are being stripped away piece by piece – making living here harder for all and impossible for some.

So here we are again – this time fighting for the right to safe, accessible front‑line medical care. Something most of the country takes for granted, but which in places like this is now under threat.  This is a fight we simply cannot afford to lose.

Priority one must be securing the right solution to keep Reeth Medical Centre open.  But we also know for certain that this will not be the last case like this.  Rural GP practices across North Yorkshire are under threat.  So, we ask you to use your influence to consider how  ...  view the full minutes text for item 655.

To consider a report outlining issues of resilience and continuity in primary care in North Yorkshire.

Edward Maxwell (Senior Democratic Services Officer) presented a report outlining the questions formally raised for scrutiny by both the Scrutiny of Health Committee itself, and the Care and Independence Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 21 April 2026, relating to issues of resilience and continuity in primary care in North Yorkshire.  The report also outlined the statutory powers of Health Scrutiny committees.

The Committee raised questioned the way information had been communicated with the community.  It was noted that residents became aware of the situation very late, which caused distress and undermined confidence.  The ICB acknowledged that communication had been challenging, explaining that during the formal expression of interest process, statutory rules prohibited the issue of any communications.  The ICB confirmed that Central Dales Practice would continue ongoing communication with patients, including use of surveys, and that any feedback received would be considered.  Councillors acknowledged the fact that the ICB had operated within the statutory framework, but emphasised the need for a sensitive, transparent and timely approach.

Members highlighted that the issues raised were indicative of wider national pressures facing rural general practice.  Questions were asked about the number of single‑handed practices in North Yorkshire, the age profile of GPs, and how practices potentially at risk were being identified and supported.  The ICB explained that it routinely receives workforce data from practices and maintains regular engagement through Primary Care Networks and the Local Medical Committee.  It noted that practices are managed on a case‑by‑case basis and that Richmondshire PCN was actively undertaking resilience and scenario planning, including “what if” discussions scheduled to take place.  It was suggested that the Committee should formally include rural GP resilience and sustainability within its forward Work Programme to enable longer‑term scrutiny.

Members reflected on the complexity of responsibilities across the health and local government system and noted that delivering services through many independent organisations presented structural challenges.  Suggestions were made that improved joint working between the ICB, local authority and other partners could help to develop more resilient, place‑based models of rural health and care.  Alternative views were also expressed that existing governance arrangements should be used and that any additional structures should be carefully considered.

Councillor Yvonne Peacock, as local member for the Upper Dales, described the initial shock felt within the community on learning of the proposed closure and emphasised that the shared priority was continuity of care.  While acknowledging the imperfections of the current solution, she highlighted the importance of enabling the new arrangements to begin, allowing time for refinement and stability.  She noted that Central Dales Practice had strong local credibility and expressed confidence that many operational issues, including the future of the building, would be resolved through continued dialogue, with further engagement planned with community groups.  The ICB provided assurance that progress was being made in discussions regarding the premises and that confidence in the arrangements had improved.

The Committee noted that the meeting had accelerated community engagement and highlighted the effective  ...  view the full minutes text for item 656.

Friday 3 July 2026 at 10:00, in the Grand Meeting Room at County Hall, Northallerton

The date of the next ordinary meeting of the Committee, on Friday 3 July 2026 at 10:00am, was noted.