Agenda and draft minutes

To consider and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 May 2026 as a true and correct record of the proceedings and to be signed by the Chair.

Resolved:-

That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2026 be approved as a true and correct record of the proceedings.

To receive declarations of interest from Members in respect of items listed on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive questions relating to items of business on the agenda from members of the public or press who are present at the meeting.

There were no questions from members of the public or press.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any part of the agenda.

There were no items on the agenda that required the exclusion of the press or members of the public.

This is item is for the Health Select Commission to nominate its representative to the Health, Safety and Welfare Panel for the 2026-27 municipal year.

The Chair sought a representative from the Health Select Commission to sit as a member of the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel.

Resolved:-

That the Health Selection Commission appointed Councillor Brent as its representative on the Health, Welfare and Safety Panel for 2026/27.

This item is to receive a report and presentation in relation to the formation and work of the Rotherham Women’s Health Network.

This item was to receive a report and presentation in relation to the formation and work of the Rotherham Women’s Health Network.

The Chair welcomed Nazreen Iqbal, Healthy Hospital Programme Manager at The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust (TRFT), Linda Strettle, GP Partner at the Village Surgery and Radhika Gosakan, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at TRFT to the meeting and invited them to introduce the presentation.

The Healthy Hospital Programme Manager outlined the background to the establishment, development, and early outputs of the Rotherham Women’s Health Network (RWHN),  and provided an overview of the national policy context and an analysis of local service pressures and population health need  via presentation.

Members were advised that the RWHN had been established in August 2025 as an organically developed, place-based partnership comprising female professionals from a wide range of sectors, including acute and primary healthcare, public health, the voluntary and community sector, and patient representation bodies such as Healthwatch.

It was emphasised that the Network had not been formally commissioned, nor formed part of any existing organisational structure, but had instead emerged as a result of shared professional concern that women’s health lacked both  coherent strategic focus and sufficient representation within local decision-making arrangements. The Network therefore sought to provide a collaborative forum through which partners could align priorities, share intelligence, and advocate for a more equitable and coordinated approach to women’s health.

The Commission was informed that the core purpose of the Network had been to address health inequalities affecting women and girls in Rotherham, with a particular emphasis on ensuring that lived experience informed service design and delivery. In its initial period of operation, the Network had achieved a number of early outcomes, including establishing cross-system relationships, improving communication between partner organisations, and increasing the visibility of women’s health issues within local forums and decision-making processes.

It was further reported that the Network had begun to undertake a preliminary health needs assessment, drawing on available data and stakeholder insight to develop a clearer baseline understanding of women’s health outcomes and inequalities within the borough. Although this work remained in progress, it had already begun to highlight a number of significant challenges requiring system-wide attention.

In setting the local context, the Healthy Hospital Programme Manager outlined the relevance of the national Women’s Health Strategy for England (initially published in 2022 and subsequently refreshed), which had, for the first time, provided a comprehensive assessment of women’s experiences across the health and care system. The Commission was advised that the Strategy had been informed by extensive national consultation and had identified consistent themes of women feeling unheard, dismissed, or inadequately supported when seeking care. Structural issues highlighted included fragmentation of services, prolonged diagnostic pathways, and insufficient inclusion of women in clinical research, all of which had contributed to inequitable outcomes. Whilst progress had been noted in certain areas, such as improved access to emergency contraception through community pharmacies, the development of digital care pathways relating to menopause and menstrual health,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

This item is to consider a report and presentation in relation to transition into the Castle View Day Centre from the existing two sites at Maple Avenue, Maltby and Elliot Centre, Herringthorpe.

This item was to receive a report and presentation in relation to transition into the Castle View Day Centre from the existing two sites at Maple Avenue, Maltby and Elliot Centre, Herringthorpe.

The Chair welcomed Carolie Hine, Change Lead, Service Improvement and Governance, Ian Spicer, Executive Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health and Cllr Baker-Rogers, Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health to the meeting and invited Cllr Baker-Rodgers to introduce the report and presentation.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health introduced the report, providing both contextual background and an overview of the transition process, they emphasised the significance of the development within the wider transformation of learning disability services in the borough.

Members were informed that the Castle View Day Centre had been designed specifically to meet the needs of adults with autism and learning disabilities, including individuals with complex and high-level support requirements. The facility was described as an exemplar of accessible and inclusive design, with all aspects of the building carefully considered to support service users. This included the layout and flow of the building, accessible drop-off arrangements, wide corridors and doorways, adaptable and partitionable internal spaces, and the use of colour schemes to support navigation and sensory comfort. External areas, including a purpose-designed sensory garden, were also highlighted as providing a calm, therapeutic environment for those accessing the service. The Centre was reported to support 38 individuals, including four fully health-funded placements, and was staffed by approximately 35 frontline workers alongside management and administrative support.

The Commission were advised that the development of Castle View formed part of the Council’s wider strategic ambition to modernise services and ensure that provision was aligned with both current and future needs. It was emphasised that this was not simply a replacement of outdated facilities, but a transformation to a modern, person-centred service model, enabling improved outcomes, enhanced user experience, and greater dignity and independence for those accessing support. The Centre now operated as the continuation of the former ‘Reach’ day services under a redesigned model of care.

In relation to the transition process itself, Members were advised that this had been subject to extensive planning and delivered through a deliberately phased approach. It was reported that, prior to any relocation, all individuals accessing the service had undergone reviews through Adult Social Care, and individualised transition plans had been developed to reflect each person’s specific needs, preferences, and readiness to move. The overarching aim of this approach had been to minimise anxiety, support emotional wellbeing, and ensure continuity of care throughout the process. It was explicitly noted that a single-day transition had been considered but rejected, as it would not have been appropriate for individuals with complex needs, despite being operationally more straightforward from a service delivery perspective.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health stressed that comprehensive engagement had taken place with all relevant stakeholders. Staff had been formally consulted on the new operating model, with support from Human Resources, including consideration of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider the Health Select Commission’s work programme for 2026/27.

Resolved:-

That the Health Select Commission:

1.    Approved the work programme.

2.    Agreed that the Governance Advisor was authorised to make any required changes to the work programme in consultation with the Chair/Vice Chair and report any such changes back to the next meeting.

This item is for information only, and intended to ensure that new or returning members of the Health Select Commission are sighted on its Terms of Reference and that they are duly considered in relation to work programming and scrutiny activities conducted during the 2026-27 municipal year.

The Chair outlined that the Health Select Commission’s Terms of Reference  were included in the agenda pack  to ensure that new and returning members were sighted on the Commission’s responsibilities and that they be duly considered in relation to work programming and scrutiny activities conducted during the 2026-27 municipal year.  

To receive and consider the minutes and recommendations of the South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The minutes of the last JHOSC meeting held 7 January 2026 were shared with members as soon as they became available and via the 14 May Health Select Commission meeting agenda pack.

The next JHOSC meeting is expected to take place in October 2026, and discussions are underway regarding the agenda for that meeting.  It is expected that Health Select Commission Members can be advised of agreed proposed agenda items and form dates by the next Health Select Commission Meeting, at which point Members will be invited to share any questions or comments they would like to be included in JHOSC’s discussions regarding those agreed items for consideration.

Members were advised that the minutes of the last South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) meeting held 7 January 2026 were shared with members as soon as they became available and via the 14 May Health Select Commission meeting agenda pack.

The next JHOSC meeting was expected to take place in October 2026, and discussions were underway regarding the agenda for that meeting. Health Select Commission Members were expected to be advised of agreed proposed agenda items and agreed dates by the next Health Select Commission Meeting in July 2026.

The Chair requested that Health Select Commission Members who had comments, queries or questions they would like to be raised regarding the most recent minutes, or any suggestions of items for consideration by JHOSC in the 2026/27 municipal year refer these to the Health Select Commission Chair and/or Governance Advisor at the earliest opportunity so these can be addressed accordingly.

To consider any item(s) which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business to consider.