Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that progress is made on the Sussex and East Surrey Sustainability and Transformation Partnership's move to integrated care systems; and what the timetable is for that move.

All sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) are at different stages with many not yet ready to apply to become integrated care systems (ICS). Although the requirements for ICS are recognised, and Sussex and East Surrey STP is working on all the desired characteristics in 2018/19, the STP is currently focusing on the key areas of improving system financial and service delivery performance in 2018/19 before making any decision about whether or not to apply to become an ICS.

There is no defined timescale for this as it is a voluntary decision for each STP depending on their own circumstances.