Spotlight newsletter - 4 September 2026
Register for the ICB’s Annual General Meeting
Residents across Surrey and Sussex are invited to join the ICB’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) later this month.
The AGM will take place on Wednesday 30 September 2026, from 3pm to 4.30pm.
The meeting is an opportunity to hear how the former Surrey Heartlands ICB and Sussex ICB worked over 2025-26 and what the plans and ambitions are for the new Surrey and Sussex ICB for local residents and communities.
Members of the public will be able to join the AGM online - complete the booking form to be sent the joining link ahead of the meeting.
Meeting papers will be available closer to the meeting date on the NHS Surrey and Sussex Board meetings webpage.
Faster and more joined-up mental health support for children and young people across Surrey
Children and young people in Surrey are to benefit from faster, more joined-up mental health and wellbeing support as NHS and charity partners begin working from the same shared NHS patient record.
For the first time, professionals across a Surrey partnership can securely access the same up-to-date information about the children and young people they support. This gives them a more complete picture of their needs and helps provide more joined-up care.
For families, this means children and young people are less likely to have to repeat their story as they move between services. It will also strengthen safeguarding, reduce duplication and help ensure the right support is provided at the right time.
It is operating across Mindworks Surrey - a partnership between the NHS and charities providing emotional wellbeing and mental health support for children and young people across Surrey. It brings together our Trust, Barnardo's, the National Autistic Society and Surrey Wellbeing Partnership.
More than 225 professionals across the Mindworks Surrey Partnership now use the shared NHS patient record. Mindworks Surrey manages almost 11,000 referrals and delivers more than 80,000 interventions each year. The rollout is thought to be the largest of its kind across an NHS and voluntary sector partnership.
Find out more about the project
Extended hours for walk-in mental health service to help more people access support
A walk-in out-of-hours mental health service in Crawley is extended its opening hours to help more people to get the support they need, when they need it.
From Tuesday 1 September 2026, Crawley Staying Well, which is located near the County Oak Retail Park, will be open Monday to Sunday from 3pm to midnight, 365 days a year.
The service, which is co-delivered by Waythrough and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, offers an alternative to attending A&E. The service is open access, which means that people who are experiencing a self-defined mental health crisis (e.g. they feel at breaking point and in need of urgent help), can attend during opening hours without first making an appointment.
The service is delivered by a team of mental health and peer support workers. As well as offering an in-person service, virtual drop-in and group sessions are also available so that people can access support in a way that works best for them.
Read the full story and find out more out NHSE plans to establish mental health departments.
Guildford team recognised with CNO Silver Award for transforming community leg care
An innovative community leg care service in Guildford has been recognised with a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Silver Award for improving outcomes and experience for patients living with leg ulcers.
The team from Procare - NHS GP Federation and Guildford East Primary Care Network (PCN) received the award for developing and delivering the Legs Get Together clinic, a multidisciplinary approach bringing primary care, community nursing and social prescribing together in a familiar community setting.
Practice nurses, Procare community nurses and social prescribers work side by side, making it easier for patients to access care and creating a friendly and supportive environment.
Patients are assessed on the day, with no waiting list for appointments, including those for compression therapy.
The model has also helped make better use of NHS resources, freeing up clinical rooms within practices and enabling different members of the workforce to work together around patients’ needs.
Read the full story, including patient feedback and outcome data.
Alliance for Better Care shortlisted for HSJ Patient Safety Award
Congratulations to ABC, which has been shortlisted for the HSJ Patient Safety Awards 2026 in the Improving Safety and Outcomes for Minority Ethnic Communities category.
ABC’s shortlisted submission, From Crisis to Safety: A Scalable Inclusion Health Model for Refugees and Asylum Seekers, highlights how GP-led care can improve safety and outcomes for people living in temporary accommodation across Surrey and Sussex.
The submission draws on evidence from ABC’s Listening Project and Inclusion Pays report, showcasing the impact of investing in inclusive healthcare for vulnerable communities. The recognition reflects the dedication of colleagues across ABC and the continued support of NHS Surrey and Sussex in delivering high-quality care.
Find out more about the shortlist and the work behind the submission on the ABC website.
Work begins on new home for Hythe Medical Centre
Work has begun on the transformation of The Hythe Centre in Staines into a new, purpose-built home for Hythe Medical Centre, marking a major milestone in securing the long-term future of healthcare services for local people.
The redevelopment will see the existing community centre on Thorpe Road converted into a modern, expanded medical centre, replacing the temporary cabin accommodation from which the practice has been operating for several years.
Once complete, the new facility will provide significantly improved accommodation for patients and staff, helping to ensure healthcare services can continue to meet the needs of the growing local community, delivering healthcare services close to home for years to come.
The project is being delivered by specialist health and care developer Prime plc in partnership with their funder/investors Newcore Capital, Hythe Medical Centre and NHS Surrey and Sussex ICB with the land purchased from Runnymede Borough Council.
The redevelopment is expected to be completed in summer 2027.
Find out more about the work planned.
New Wellbeing Square brings neighbourhood health to the heart of Newhaven
The landmark Wellbeing Square in Newhaven has officially opened its doors, bringing modern, integrated and purpose‑built health and wellbeing facilities to the centre of the town. The former cluster of vacant and under‑used buildings has been transformed into a modern health hub that brings together primary care, community wellbeing and leisure services in one connected location.
Led by Lewes District Council, the £21 million project makes full use of council‑owned town centre properties to revitalise healthcare provision in Newhaven. The completed scheme includes two state‑of‑the‑art GP practices, a new pharmacy, an extension to Seahaven Swim & Fitness Centre operated by Wave Active, and a creative/co‑working space, creating a unique environment where healthcare, wellbeing and community services are delivered side‑by‑side.
Both GP surgeries had formerly been operating from old and increasingly unsuitable buildings. The new premises provide additional consultation and treatment rooms, improved reception and waiting areas, and enhanced staff facilities. The modern facilities will greatly improve patient experience and support the growing healthcare demand in Newhaven.
Read the full story
Queen Victoria Hospital introduces AI tool to support chest x-ray reporting
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (QVH) has introduced a new artificial intelligence (AI) tool to support the reporting of chest X-rays within its Radiology Department.
The technology, known as Harrison.ai CXR, is designed to assist radiology teams by analysing chest X-rays after they have been performed and helping to prioritise examinations for review by a reporting clinician. The tool can identify up to 124 findings on a chest X-ray and is already in use across NHS organisations and hundreds of healthcare providers worldwide.
Importantly, Harrison.ai CXR is a decision-support tool and does not replace the expertise of radiologists or reporting clinicians. The system analyses images in the background and presents its findings within existing radiology workflows, allowing reporting clinicians to incorporate the information into their overall assessment. Every chest X-ray will continue to receive a formal report from a qualified clinician, and that report remains the definitive clinical result.
By helping to prioritise chest X-rays with potentially significant findings, the technology aims to support efficient reporting workflows and the timely identification of patients who may require further investigation or treatment.
Read the full story and find out more about Harrison.ai.CXR
Mark’s life-saving heart transplant: One year on
One year after receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Mark is enjoying the simple pleasures many of us take for granted: walking his dog, playing golf, baking cakes, and spending time with family and friends. Just 18 months ago, however, his future looked very different.
After suffering two heart attacks, Mark's heart function deteriorated significantly and by July 2024 he was referred to First Community Health and Care's Heart Failure service, where he came under the care of heart failure specialist nurse, Linsey. At the time, he was critically unwell and struggling with even the most basic daily activities.
Following a successful transplant at Harefield Hospital, Mark returned home just two weeks later and began the next stage of his recovery.
A key part of that journey has been the ongoing support provided by First Community's Heart Failure and Cardiac Rehabilitation teams. Mark acknowledges the continuity of care he received throughout his treatment and recovery as being instrumental to his success.
Mark's journey highlights the value of collaboration between community and hospital services, with healthcare professionals from First Community, East Surrey Hospital and Harefield Hospital working closely together throughout his treatment and recovery. The continuity of having the same community heart failure nurse before and after his transplant also greatly supported Marks confidence in his after care.
Find out more about the ongoing support provided by First Community’s Heart Failure and Cardiac Rehabilitation teams, and watch a short video featuring a full interview with Mark.
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