NHS England has indicated that it is reviewing a potential shift of responsibility for digital and technology decisions away from integrated care boards (ICBs) to healthcare providers.
It is part of wide raft of plans in its new Model Integrated Care Board Blueprint, developed to provide clarity on the future role of ICBs and to facilitate a 50% reduction in their costs.
This involves a shift – subject to review – of several functions away from the organisations, including for digital and technology leadership and transformation. While providing little detail, the blueprint says the responsibilities will be transferred over time to neighbourhood providers and enabled by a national data and digital infrastructure.
These will be made possible by the flexibilities under the Health and Care Act for ICBs to transfer their statutory duties.
It reflects the Government’s intent to shift more services to community and neighbourhood based settings. The document acknowledges in its introduction that so far there is no corresponding picture of what this will look like, although it will involve an increased use of technology.
General practice possibilities
There is also a statement of a more qualified intent to “explore options” for transferring general practice IT, saying it would have to ensure a “consistent offer”.
Responsibility for data collection, management and processing will move to a national source, likely to be within the Department for Health and Social Security given the plan to abolish NHS England over the next two years.
The use of data and analytics for population health management is expected to stay within ICBs, with a requirement for investment in new capabilities over time.
Other functions under review for transfer, some to regional and national teams, include: primary care operations; emergency preparedness, resilience and response; local workforce development; strategic workforce planning; research, development and innovation; green plan sustainability; and estates and infrastructure strategy.
Reshaping the role
The introduction to the document states: “This blueprint document marks the first step in a joint programme of work to reshape the focus, role and functions of ICBs, with a view to laying the foundations for delivery of the 10 Year Health Plan.
“It is clear that moving forwards, ICBs have a critical role to play as strategic commissioners working to improve population health, reduce inequalities and improve access to more consistently high quality care and we look forward to shaping the next steps on this together.”
