Redbridge councillors are set to hear from the Speak Up Guardian from Barts Health NHS Trust at the Health Scrutiny Sub-committee meeting on Thursday, 25 September 2025. The meeting will also cover a health protection update and agreement of the sub-committee work programme for 2025/26.

Speak Up Guardians are responsible for ensuring that staff within NHS Trusts feel safe to raise concerns about patient safety or wrongdoing. This is a key role in maintaining standards within the NHS.

The Health Scrutiny Sub-committee will also receive a verbal update from the Director of Public Health and Commissioning on health protection matters. A previous update in June 2025 included information on Covid, flu, measles, polio, hot weather alerts, and public health funding. According to the Public Reports Pack, a new Covid variant, NB1.81, was being monitored. This variant presented as cold-like symptoms affecting people over the age of 75 or those with underlying medical conditions, and was being monitored cross country by the World Health Organisation. A Spring booster of the Covid vaccine was being undertaken, with a coverage rate of 42% for Redbridge residents, the second highest in north east London. Engagement work has been undertaken with local communities and primary care partners and a further booster programme will be undertaken in late October. It was clarified that no deaths had been reported from the new strain.

The June update also noted that flu vaccination had been effective in preventing hospital admissions, and winter planning work was in progress to manage the flu season. A Yellow Alert warning for hot weather had been announced, and a national communication toolkit was shared with care homes due to the potential risks to older people.

There had also been a rise in measles cases following outbreaks in some London schools. Engagement work was ongoing to outline key messaging around immunisation to protect children and young people. There have been no outbreaks in Redbridge but last December there were four reported cases in children under the age of 10. Redbridge had achieved approximately 82% against a target of 95% uptake for the MMR vaccine. Changes relating to the MMR2 vaccine were due to be announced to protect children at an earlier stage, and consideration would be given regarding how this information is communicated to parents.

Regarding public health funding, no additional funding had been allocated to the borough for this year following the recent spending review announcement by central government. Limited funding had been allocated for smoking cessation last year for the homeless population. Consideration was being given to publishing the Public Health Grant Allocation within the Annual Public Health Report, for transparency. The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health commented that the Public Health grant spending allocation was disappointing for local government and had not alleviated the local funding challenges. In addition, Cabinet wrote to central government regarding the allocation, which was challenged in relation to allocations made to other boroughs, however this did not receive a favourable outcome.

The Sub-committee will also discuss and agree on its work programme for the municipal year 2025/26. The Committee discussed and agreed the following changes to the proposed work programme, in addition to the standing items:

  • 25 September 2025
    • Barts Health NHS Trust Speak-up Guardian
    • ICB Continuing Health Care Funding TBC (to be confirmed)
    • Flu review (included as part of the Health Protection Update)
  • 26 November 2025
    • BHRUT Emergency Care Patient Survey Results and Waiting Times Update
    • End of Life Care ICB / BHRUT / Barts/ St Francis Hospice
    • ICB update on funding and handover arrangements by NHSE TBC
    • Smoking Cessation
  • 26 January 2026
    • Primary Care Update – to include references to GP Reform, Ilford Exchange Update, and rollout of NHS APP - TBC
    • Cervical Screening and Women's Project – Healthwatch Redbridge Phase 2/3 reports and input from NHS Cancer Alliance (to include update on self-screening)
  • 23 February 2026
    • National Million Hearts and Minds, designed to improve cardiovascular health
    • NELFT – Child and Adult Mental Health Service (CAMHS) – due to be presented to the Health and Well-being Board - TBC
    • Flu outcome (included as part of the Health Protection Update)
  • 21 April 2026
    • TBC
  • Unallocated
    • Annual Public Health Report - TBC

The Agenda Frontsheet indicates that there will be an opportunity to raise any other urgent items at the discretion of the Chair.

The meeting is scheduled to take place in the Council Chamber at Redbridge Town Hall.