Agenda item

The Committee scrutinised a report which provided an update on the progress in relation to the Health and Care Bill.

The Committee were informed that Integrated care systems (ICSs) were partnerships of health and care organisations that come together to plan and deliver joined-up services and to improve the health of people who live and work in their area. They existed to achieve four aims:

·         improve outcomes in population health and healthcare

·         tackle inequalities in outcomes, experience and access

·         enhance productivity and value for money

·         help the NHS support broader social and economic development.

Following several years of locally led development and based on the recommendations of NHS England and NHS Improvement, the government had set out plans to put ICSs on a statutory footing. To support the transition, NHS England and NHS Improvement had published guidance and resources, drawing on learning from all over the country. The aim was to enable local health and care leaders to build strong and effective ICSs in every part of England. Collaborating as ICSs would help health and care organisations tackle complex challenges, which included:

·         improving the health of children and young people

·         supporting people to stay well and independent

·         acting sooner to help those with preventable conditions

·         supporting those with long-term conditions or mental health issues

·         caring for those with multiple needs as populations age

·         getting the best from collective resources so people get care as quickly as possible.

The continued development of Integrated Care Systems remained a priority for the NHS. The Health and Care Bill, which intended to put ICSs on a statutory footing and create Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) as new NHS bodies, was currently being considered by Parliament. To allow sufficient time for the remaining parliamentary stages, a new target date of 1 July 2022 had been agreed for new statutory arrangements to take effect and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to be legally and operationally established. This replaced the previously stated target date of 1 April 2022. The new target date would provide some extra flexibility for systems preparing for the new statutory arrangements and managing the immediate priorities in the pandemic response, while maintaining the momentum towards more effective system working.

Joint working arrangements had been in place at system level for some time, and there had already been significant progress in preparing for the proposed establishment of statutory Integrated Care Systems, which included recruitment of designate ICB Chairs and Chief Executives. CCG leaders and designate ICB leaders were asked to continue with preparations for the

closure of CCGs and the establishment of ICBs, working toward the new target date. Designated ICB leaders, CCG AOs and NHS England and NHS Improvement regional teams would be asked to agree ways of working for 2022/23 before the end of March 2022. This would include agreeing how they would work together to support ongoing system development during Q1, including the establishment of statutory ICSs and the oversight and quality governance arrangements in their system.

RESOVLED that the Health and Care Bill Update be noted.