The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is set to scrutinise the reorganisation of Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).
The PAC session Integrated Care Boards: re-organisation will take place on 16 November.
The government is restructuring ICBs with the aim for them to be able to focus more on commissioning services and to reduce their running costs by half. The restructure is proceeding in parallel with wider health reforms, including the abolition of NHS England (NHSE).
A recent National Audit Office (NAO) report found that to achieve the required £908m in running costs would require a reduction of around 8,000 full-time equivalent posts – around a third of total ICB staff. The NAO found these redundancies have taken longer than originally planned, with the restructuring affecting staff morale and relationships with local partners, and creating risks to organisational capacity. By March 2027, ICBs will still be spending around £200m more a year than NHSE's target of £1.2bn.
Informed by the NAO report, the PAC will take evidence from DHSC and NHSE senior leadership. Likely topics include:
- how the plans are benefiting the health of local populations beyond reducing costs;
- ICBs’ progress in achieving government’s hoped-for savings;
- how the abolition of NHSE has affected the transition;
- how the restructure has impacted ICBs’ capacity and skills; and
- how government will align these changes with wider plans for local government reform and devolution.
Witnesses will include:
- Samantha Jones OBE, permanent secretary, Department of Health & Social Care
- Elizabeth O’Mahony, interim director general, finance, DHSC
- Sir Jim Mackey, CEO, NHS England (NHSE)
- Jan Thomas, executive director for system development, NHSE