Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the letter from the Chief Executive of NHS England entitled Working together in 2025/26 to lay the foundations for reform, published on 1 April 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the (a) proposed funding reductions and (b) organisational reorganisation on staff (i) training, (ii) retention and (iii) morale.

NHS England has asked the integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners and to reduce the duplication of responsibilities within their structure, to achieve reductions in their running cost allowance. NHS England will work closely with the ICBs to ensure these changes do not compromise the quality of care or the statutory responsibilities of ICBs. ICBs will also consider how these changes impact on staff, and will take the necessary steps to ensure continuity of staff training and support for staff morale, thereby protecting frontline staff.

ICBs have drafted and shared their delivery and resource plans in accordance with the guidance set out in Sir Jim Mackey's letter of 1 April and the Model ICB framework. NHS England is working with ICBs to review and implement these plans, including is supporting staff through the transition.