Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of integrated care boards in the financial year 2022–23.

The Department undertakes regular discussion with NHS England on the performance and oversight of the integrated care boards (ICBs). Statutory ICBs were established on 1 July 2022 and since then they have made real progress in understanding the health needs of their populations, setting out their plans, developing the infrastructure needed for collaboration, and bringing health and social care organisations together to serve the needs of their communities.

NHS England conducted an annual performance assessment of the ICBs for the 2022/23 financial year, from July 2022 to March 2023, and published the guidance Annual assessment of integrated care boards 2022-23: supporting guidance, for the ICBs. While conducting the assessments, NHS England considered how successfully each ICB: led the National Health Service within its integrated care system (ICS); performed its statutory functions; delivered on guidance set out by NHS England or my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care regarding its functions, with a particular focus on the objectives set out in the priorities and operational planning guidance; and contributed to each of the four fundamental purposes of an ICS, which are improving population health and healthcare, tackling unequal outcomes and access, enhancing productivity and value for money, and helping the National Health Service support broader social and economic development.

These annual assessments included an assessment of how well the ICB performed the following specific duties, required under the terms of the NHS Act 2006, as amended by the Health and Care Act 2022:

- the duty to improve the quality of services;

- the duty to reduce inequality of access and outcome;

- the duty to take appropriate advice;

- the duty to facilitate, promote, and use research;

- the duty to have regard to the effect of decisions, also known as the triple aim;

- the duty to consult patients and the public about decisions that affect them;

- the financial duties; and

- the duty to contribute to wider local strategies.

NHS England published a summary of the assessment reports as part of its 2022/23 Annual Report and Accounts. All ICBs also published their individual Annual Reports and Accounts for 2022/23, on their websites. The Department is working with NHS England on its approach to the annual performance assessment for 2023/24.