service capacity
Councils are currently addressing social care waiting lists and reviewing rail service performance.
Merton Council is strengthening winter resilience with new urgent care hubs and expanded community response services to reduce A&E attendances, as reported in October 2026. Ealing Council is also working to reduce social care waiting lists and improve access to adult social care through a 'front door transformation programme', with progress discussed by its Health and Adult Social Services Scrutiny Panel in July 2025.
Greenwich Council's Transport and Place Scrutiny Panel reviewed the performance and future plans of Govia Thameslink Railway and Southeastern Railway in February 2026, noting updates on service performance and investment programmes. No further council meetings are currently scheduled to discuss service capacity.
Ealing Council's efforts follow a Care Quality Commission report that identified the timeliness of assessments as needing improvement, leading to a 'requires improvement' rating. Merton Council's plans for urgent care hubs were approved by the Merton Health and Wellbeing Board in October 2020.
Key facts
- Merton Council is strengthening winter resilience with new urgent care hubs and expanded community response services. Source
- Ealing Council's Health and Adult Social Services Scrutiny Panel discussed social care waiting list progress in July 2025. Source
- The Care Quality Commission rated Ealing as 'requires improvement' for timeliness of assessments. Source
- Merton Health and Wellbeing Board approved urgent care hub plans in October 2020. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 8 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.