NHSE warns ICBs over staffing and capability gaps

NHS England criticised staffing and capacity issues at several integrated care boards (ICBs), a year after instructing them to cut their staffing by half.

Its annual assessments of ICBs for 2025-26 – which most ICBs have since published in board papers and annual reports – noted various staffing gaps in data and analytics, safeguarding and nursing.

It also raised concerns over “place”-level working at some ICBs. This has been a target in many of the cost-cutting drives, as ICBs have been encouraged to reduce partnership working and “convening”, as well as sharply cut their workforce.

The assessments cover ICBs as they were before several merged in April this year.

NHSE highlighted “workforce gaps” in safeguarding at four London ICBs: North Central London, North West London, South East London, and South West London.

However, it praised Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West and Frimley ICBs, which now largely form Thames Valley ICB, for “retaining their safeguarding workforce with minimal reductions”.

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Source: HSJ, 5 November 2026