Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has taken steps to ensure that (a) patients and (b) other members of the public are involved in the decision-making structures of Integrated Care Boards.

Integrated care board (ICB) constitutions are expected to include principles and arrangements for how the ICB will work with patients and communities. ICBs are also required (under section 13Q of the NHS Act 2006) to involve the public in the commissioning of services for National Health Service patients. ICBs must set out how they plan to discharge this duty in their joint forward plans.

NHS England and the Department worked with a wide range of partners including Healthwatch England and the Patients Association to develop statutory guidance on working in partnership with people and communities in 2022, which sets out guidance on how to fulfil their duty on public involvement and consultation.