Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee
Subject: Winter Performance 2024-25
Date of meeting: 09 July 2025
Report of: Chair of the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee
Contact Officer: Name: Giles Rossington, Scrutiny Manager
Tel: 01273 295514
Email: giles.rossington@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Ward(s) affected: (All Wards);
Key Decision: No
1.1 This report provides the committee with information on the performance of the local health & care system across winter 2024-25. Appendix 1 to this report includes information provided by health and care system partners on winter planning and performance 2024-25. The report will be presented to the committee by representatives of the Sussex Integrated Care Board (ICB), city council Adult Social Care, and by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSx).
2.1 Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee notes the contents of this report and its appendices.
3.1 Health & Care systems typically experience a surge in activity during the winter months. This is partly due to seasonal infectious illnesses (flu, norovirus); but also because colder weather exacerbates a range of pre-existing problems (e.g. respiratory and circulatory conditions). Extreme weather may also lead to greater levels of activity. The presence of Covid presents an additional risk at the current time. Increases in demand for services can put a severe strain on systems, most obviously emergency healthcare. This is particularly the case when systems are at or near to capacity at all times of the year, as is the case locally.
3.2 In order to manage this seasonal demand surge, health & care systems are required to develop whole system (e.g. Sussex) winter plans. In November 2024, system partners presented on Sussex winter planning to the Brighton & Hove HOSC. It was agreed that a follow-up report outlining performance against this plan would be reported to the HOSC in summer 2025 (see the information provided by NHS Sussex in Appendix 1).
4.1 Not relevant to this information report.
5.1 Not relevant to this information report.
6.1 No financial implications have been identified in this report to note.
Name of finance officer consulted: Ishemupenyu Chagonda Date consulted 30.06.25
7.1 No legal implications have been identified in this report, which is for noting only.
Name of lawyer consulted: Victoria Simpson Date consulted 30.06.25
8.1 None directly to this report for information.
9.1 None directly to this report for information.
10. Health and Wellbeing Implications:
10.1 None directly to this report for information
11. Procurement implications
11.1 None identified.
12. Crime & disorder implications:
12.1 None identified.
13.1 Members are asked to note health and care system performance across the past winter and to note the lessons learnt for future planning.
Supporting Documentation
1. Information on system performance winter 2023-24 provided byhealth and care system partners.
1. 20 November 2024 HOSC report on the Sussex system winter plan 2024-25 (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee, 20/11/2024 16:00