Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Integration and Innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all White Paper, published on 11 February 2021, what type of joint appointments should be enabled; and what assessment he has made of whether those arrangements could potentially lead to a joint appointment of one individual to act as both the executive director or chief executive of an NHS Foundation Trust and the executive director or chief executive in a local authority.

Appointing people to joint roles across two organisations can support aligned decision making, enhance leadership across organisations and improve the delivery of integrated care. In the Health and Care Bill we are proposing to introduce the ability to issue guidance on joint appointments between National Health Service bodies; NHS bodies and local authorities; and NHS bodies and combined authorities. This will ensure that there is a clear set of criteria for organisations to consider when making joint appointments. Ahead of publishing any guidance, NHS England would consult with appropriate organisations.