Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to help protect (a) safeguarding, (b) continuing healthcare and (c) support for people with special educational needs and disabilities during the transition to the new integrated care board cluster in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

To support integrated care boards (ICBs) as they reduce their running costs, which includes moving to new clusters in some areas, NHS England has been working with stakeholders on further detail. NHS England has shared best practice documents in relation to NHS Continuing Healthcare, support for people with special educational needs and disabilities, and safeguarding. These documents are clear on ICBs’ statutory requirements and set out that the focus in the near term will be on spreading best practice in the delivery of these functions, ensuring the function is delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible by all ICBs.