Six ICS chiefs to lead regional decision-making group

Six integrated care boards across the West Midlands are proposing to establish a joint committee of chief executives to make shared decisions on key issues impacting the region, it has emerged.

The CEOs of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICS, Black Country integrated care systems, Birmingham and Solihull ICS, Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICS, Coventry and Warwickshire ICS and Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS have each presented plans for a senior joint committee of the ICBs in their respective board papers.

Chiefs say there are several areas where it will be “beneficial or necessary” for the six ICBs to collaborate and make joint decisions, and it is intended this committee will provide such a mechanism. HSJ  understands it could also act as a forum to discuss performance.

Proposed shared areas of action include primary care and specialised services, which ICBs will be responsible for from April 2023, commissioning for 111/999 services, mutual aid on elective/cancer recovery, and urgent and emergency care, including ambulance handover delays. 

According to draft terms of reference, an executive committee of CEOs would be accountable to the six ICB boards and would be required to report all decisions, actions and progress to their respective systems.

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Source: HSJ, 7 October 2022