Stuart Anderson MP has raised concerns about the possible clustering of regional health commissioners. Stuart's concerns centre on how these changes will affect the collaboration between health officials and the police to support vulnerable people.
New NHS Chief Executive James Mackey has said that a "big consolidation" is on the table, after Government Ministers demanded a 50% reduction in running costs by December.
Ministers have ordered a "financial reset" of health services, as part of which almost half of NHS Trusts are cutting services such as rehabilitative and palliative care. The King's Fund has said that the "swingeing" cuts signal a "seismic shift" in how the government delivers health provision.
Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), which commission primary health services are, also expected to make fifty per cent cuts by December - resulting in 12,500 job losses. This is despite being responsible for meeting the health needs of local populations.
In England, there are 42 ICBs. Each covers a population of up to three million people. Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB is the smallest. It covers a population of 500,000. ICBs offer services such as vaccination programmes and blood pressure checks, assisting preventative healthcare.
The Health Service Journal has reported that most integrated care boards are expected to “cluster” with neighbours “as soon as possible” and formally cluster in either April 2026 or 2027.
West Mercia Police currently work with two ICBs. The first covers Herefordshire and Worcestershire, while the second covers Shropshire, Telford, and the Wrekin. Under new plans, it is understood that the former could cluster with Coventry and Warwickshire, while the latter could cluster with Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Meanwhile, it is believed that Birmingham and Solihull will cluster with the Black Country. This would lead to three "paired clusters" serving much larger populations in the West Midlands. Health Ministers have said that cluster will "unlock the benefit of working at scale to deliver better care for patients."
However, Stuart has raised "significant safeguarding concerns that impact the most vulnerable residents." This is because the region's two ICBs, which currently work with West Mercia Police, will need to operate across four police forces - with new operational and data agreements to be made.
Stuart has called on Ministers to ensure that any changes are consistent with local geographies and safeguarding is prioritised. It is part of his plan to enhance public services in South Shropshire.
Officials at the Department for Health and Social Care have said:
"In order to meet our more focused strategic commissioning role and the requirement to reduce our organisational costs, the ICB footprint is likely to be larger in the future, but it will be crucial to retain strong 'place' based arrangements and partnerships at a local level."
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said:
I’m grateful to Stuart for joining me in my loud and consistent calls for clarity from the Government. In May, I highlighted my serious concerns about the proposed changes to ICBs in West Mercia, and I’m yet to receive reassurance that the most vulnerable in our society won’t be at risk of falling through the cracks. Instead, reforms are being rushed through that focus more on reducing costs by merging West Mercia with areas outside our force area, rather than providing the necessary resources to safeguard our communities.”
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"Integrated Care Boards play a vital role, ensuring collaboration across health and social care providers. In Shropshire, they work with the West Mercia Police to protect vulnerable adults and children. The Government's financial reset of the NHS requires them to half running costs by December. This could result in clusters, meaning the region's two ICBs, which currently work with West Mercia Police, will need to operate across four police forces - with new operational and data agreements to be made. I have called on Ministers to ensure that any changes are consistent with local geographies and safeguarding is prioritised."
