Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients and communities are involved with the work and governance of Integrated Care Systems.

The proposed Health and Care Bill places a duty on integrated care boards to promote the involvement of patients and their carers and representatives in decisions related to their care. The integrated care partnership will also be required to involve residents and local Healthwatch organisations when preparing integrated care strategies. The Department will issue guidance in relation to the partnerships to reinforce the importance of representation and engagement.