Integrated Care Boards

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Statutory NHS organisations that plan and commission healthcare services across local areas in England, replacing CCGs as part of the NHS reform.

What are Integrated Care Boards?

What is ?

Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are statutory NHS bodies established by the Health and Care Act 2022, responsible for developing a plan to meet the healthcare needs of their population and allocating NHS budget for their area. They form part of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) alongside Integrated Care Partnerships. ICBs bring together NHS providers, commissioners, local authorities, and other partners to improve coordination of services, reduce inequalities, and enhance population health outcomes through collaborative planning and delivery of care.

Integrated Care Boards Best Practices

What is ?

  • Establish clear clinical leadership structures that include PCN representation to ensure primary care voice is heard
  • Develop transparent resource allocation mechanisms that support primary care development and innovation
  • Implement joint working protocols between PCNs and ICBs to streamline pathway development
  • Create shared outcome frameworks that align PCN objectives with wider system goals
  • Foster regular communication channels between PCN Clinical Directors and ICB leadership teams

Use Integrated Care Boards in a Sentence

What is ?

  1. The Integrated Care Board has allocated additional funding to support expanded mental health services across all Primary Care Networks in the region.
  2. PCN Clinical Directors meet quarterly with the Integrated Care Board to align strategic priorities and discuss resource requirements.
  3. The local Integrated Care Board has developed a population health management approach that supports PCNs in targeting interventions for their highest-risk patients.
Frequently Asked Questions about
Integrated Care Boards

What does Integrated Care Boards mean?

Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are statutory NHS organisations that plan, commission and integrate healthcare services across local areas in England. Established by the Health and Care Act 2022, they replaced Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and have responsibility for allocating NHS budget and resources to improve population health, reduce inequalities, and coordinate care delivery across their geographic footprint.

How do Integrated Care Boards work with Primary Care Networks?

Integrated Care Boards work collaboratively with Primary Care Networks (PCNs) by including PCN clinical leadership in decision-making processes, providing funding for enhanced services, and supporting integrated care initiatives. ICBs typically engage PCN Clinical Directors in system planning, commission services that complement PCN delivery, and enable data sharing across the healthcare system. This relationship aims to strengthen primary care's voice in local healthcare planning while supporting PCNs to deliver more coordinated and preventative care.

What powers do Integrated Care Boards have?

Integrated Care Boards possess significant statutory powers including control over NHS budget allocation for their area, commissioning of healthcare services, oversight of provider performance, and authority to establish strategies for improving population health outcomes. They can determine local health priorities, make investment decisions, develop workforce plans, establish clinical pathways, and hold providers accountable for service quality and efficiency. Their powers extend to forming collaborative arrangements with local authorities and implementing integrated care approaches across their system.

How are Integrated Care Boards structured?

Integrated Care Boards have a statutory minimum membership including a Chair, Chief Executive, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer, and representatives from NHS trusts, general practice, and local authorities. Most ICBs also include additional executive directors covering areas such as transformation, commissioning, and partnerships. The board operates with committees for functions like quality assurance, finance, and remuneration. Their structure aims to balance system-wide leadership with local responsiveness through place-based teams and neighbourhood delivery units.

What is the difference between Integrated Care Boards and Integrated Care Systems?

An Integrated Care Board (ICB) is the statutory NHS organisation within the broader Integrated Care System (ICS) structure. While the ICB holds the legal responsibility for NHS budget, planning and commissioning, the ICS encompasses the entire partnership arrangement including the ICB, the Integrated Care Partnership (a statutory committee bringing NHS and local authorities together), provider collaboratives, place-based partnerships, and local community organisations. Simply put, the ICB is the NHS governance body within the wider collaborative ecosystem that makes up the entire ICS.

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