Since their establishment in July 2022, there have been different interpretations of the role of ICBs. The Darzi review concluded that these roles and responsibilities need to be clarified to provide consistency and to better enable their strategic objectives, including a rebuilding of strategic commissioning capability. The direction for how ICBs will need to operate going forward is set by the three strategic shifts from treatment to prevention, hospital to community, and analogue to digital.
The Model Integrated Care Board (ICB) Blueprint outlines the future role and functions of ICBs as strategic commissioners within the NHS. Developed collaboratively by ICB leaders and NHS England, the blueprint provides a clear direction for the evolution of ICBs, ensuring they are well-equipped to improve population health, ensure access to high-quality services, and manage health budgets effectively.
Key highlights:
- Purpose: ICBs exist to improve their population’s health and hold accountability for ensuring the best use of the health budget to improve health and healthcare and should deliver this through focus on their core functions.
- Functional changes: The blueprint identifies functions that will grow, be retained and adapted, or reviewed for transfer, ensuring ICBs remain agile and responsive to the evolving healthcare landscape.
- Enablers and capabilities: To deliver their core functions, ICBs need specific enablers and capabilities, including a clear understanding of their purpose, accountability, and the wider system architecture as outlined in the upcoming 10 Year Health Plan.
- Collaboration and Development: The blueprint is a joint leadership product, developed by ICB leaders from across the country, representing diverse regions and system sizes. It sets the foundation for the delivery of the 10 Year Health Plan and aims to provide a leaner and simpler way of working within the NHS.
- Delivering ICB cost reductions plans: ICBs will need to produce financial plans outlining how they will reach an operating cost envelope of £18.76 per head of population by Q3 of 2025/26
Read our full summary below:
This document represents the first step in laying the foundations for delivery of the 10 Year Health Plan, laying out the critical role ICBs will play as strategic commissioners.
Find the full report here: https://www.hsj.co.uk/integrated-care/icb-functions-radically-reduced-in-national-blueprint/7039235.article.
