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 with NHS England to ensure (a) patient safety and (b) the maintenance of the NHS’ statutory functions following changes to the level of funding for to integrated care boards.

NHS England has asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health and care services and to reduce the duplication of responsibilities within their structure, with the expectation of achieving a reduction in their running cost allowance. NHS England provided additional guidance to ICBs, National Health Service trusts, and NHS foundation trusts in a letter on 1 April 2025. This letter is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/working-together-in-2025-26-to-lay-the-foundations-for-reform/

These changes will form part of a package of measures, including the forthcoming 10-Year Health Plan, that positively impact patient care and safety by driving quality of care, productivity, and innovation in the NHS. ICBs will continue to deliver their statutory responsibilities and will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to ensure this is done effectively and within the running costs allowance, and that the savings will be reinvested in frontline services to deliver better care for patients.