Recommendation 24

The Health and Care Bill introduces statutory Integrated Care Systems (ICSs), made up of an Integrated Care Board (ICB), responsible for the commissioning of healthcare services and an Integrated Care Partnership (ICP), an alliance of organisations and representatives to improve care, health and wellbeing, jointly convened by local authorities and the NHS.44 Under these new arrangements the existing 106 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG’s) responsible for commissioning healthcare services for the people of England are planned to become 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) on 1 July 2022. In addition, several changes are planned to take place at a national level. NHS Improvement will be merged into NHS England, the expanded NHS England will also take in the functions of the NHS Trust Development Authority and Monitor and the existing bodies will be abolished. The future abolition of Health Education England; NHS Digital; and NHS X has also been announced with these functions also transferring to NHS England at a future date.45 40 Q 102 41 DHSC 2020–21 ARA, page 134 42 Q101 43 Q105 44 Health and Care Bill, HL Bill 132 (as amended on Report), HM Government 45 Department of Health and Social Care, Major reforms to NHS workforce planning and tech agenda, 22 November 2021 16 Department of Health and Social Care 2020–21 Annual Report and Accounts