Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)

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Statutory NHS organisations that plan and commission healthcare services for local populations, replacing Clinical Commissioning Groups in 2022.

What are Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)?

What is ?

Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are statutory bodies established by the Health and Care Act 2022 as part of the NHS reform in England. They are responsible for developing a plan to meet the health needs of their population, managing NHS budget allocation, and establishing joint working arrangements with partners. ICBs work alongside Integrated Care Partnerships (ICPs) within Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) to coordinate services and improve population health outcomes while reducing inequalities between different groups.

Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) Best Practices

What is ?

  • Maintain strong collaborative relationships with Primary Care Networks to ensure clinical input into commissioning decisions
  • Establish clear governance frameworks that enable joint decision-making with local partners
  • Develop data-sharing agreements and integrated technologies to support care coordination
  • Focus on population health management and preventative approaches to healthcare
  • Engage meaningfully with local communities and patient representatives to understand local health needs

Use Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in a Sentence

What is ?

  1. The Integrated Care Board (ICB) has allocated additional funding to Primary Care Networks for improved diabetes management services.
  2. GPs are working closely with their Integrated Care Board (ICB) to develop more coherent pathways for patient referrals.
  3. The new strategy published by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) emphasises the importance of delivering more care within community settings.
Frequently Asked Questions about
Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)

What does Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) mean?

Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) are statutory NHS organisations introduced in July 2022 as part of Integrated Care Systems in England. They are responsible for planning and commissioning healthcare services, allocating resources, and improving health outcomes for their local population. ICBs replaced Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and bring together NHS providers, local authorities, and other partners to deliver more coordinated and integrated care.

Who sits on an Integrated Care Board?

An Integrated Care Board consists of a chair appointed by NHS England, a chief executive, and representatives from NHS trusts, general practice, local authorities, and other partners. The board must include at minimum: an executive medical director, an executive director of nursing, and a finance director. Many ICBs also include additional members with expertise in areas such as public health, mental health, and social care to ensure comprehensive representation across the health and care system.

How do Integrated Care Boards differ from Clinical Commissioning Groups?

While ICBs took over the commissioning responsibilities previously held by CCGs, they differ in several key ways. ICBs have a broader membership that includes representatives from across the healthcare system, not just GPs. They operate at a larger scale, covering wider geographical areas. ICBs have explicit responsibilities for integration with social care and public health, and they focus more strongly on population health outcomes and reducing health inequalities. Additionally, ICBs have greater statutory powers to work collaboratively with other system partners.

What is the relationship between Primary Care Networks and Integrated Care Boards?

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) work together within the NHS structure. PCNs operate at a neighbourhood level, typically serving 30,000-50,000 patients, while ICBs function at a system level covering much larger populations. PCNs provide clinical leadership and input to ICBs about local health needs and service gaps. ICBs, in turn, commission services and allocate resources that support PCNs in delivering primary care. This relationship enables better alignment between local primary care delivery and system-level planning and commissioning.

What powers do Integrated Care Boards have over GP practices?

Integrated Care Boards have taken on the responsibility for commissioning primary medical services, previously held by NHS England and CCGs. While ICBs don't directly manage GP practices, they influence primary care through commissioning decisions, funding allocations, and setting local priorities. ICBs work with PCNs to develop enhanced services, improve access, and implement quality improvement initiatives. They can also establish local incentive schemes and support the development of the primary care workforce. However, GP practices remain independent contractors with significant autonomy over day-to-day operations.

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