Government U-turns on transfer of ICB functions

Integrated care boards will have to carry out more than a dozen functions earmarked for transfer to other bodies for at least another year despite huge cuts in their workforce, HSJ has learned. 

NHS England’s Model ICB blueprint, published in May 2025, said that the rationalised ICBs would no longer be responsible for 18 functions. However, HSJ understands only four of these will be transferred in 2026-27, and that there is no firm date for the reallocation of the remainder.

NHSE had already backtracked on the transfer of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), safeguarding and continuing healthcare functions, as well as emergency preparedness, resilience, and response planning, and the management of “system coordination centres”.   

It has now decided to keep a further nine functions within the ICB remit. These include digital and technology leadership and transformation, medicines optimisation, and pathway and service development programmes – all of which were due to transfer to providers.

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Source: HSJ, 16 October 2026