• Three new integrated care systems (ICSs) have been announced by NHS England, meaning more than a third of the country’s population is covered.
• These ICSs are: Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West; the North East and North Cumbria; and South East London.
• They join the current 14 ICSs, and leave 28 sustainability and transformation plans remaining.
• NHS England has said all areas will be covered by an ICS by April 2021.
  
  

The director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, Miriam Deakin said:

“The announcement of three new integrated care systems (ICS) is a further important step on the journey towards all systems achieving ICS status. Today’s announcement includes the largest ICS covering more than three million people and the first in London.

We know that greater collaboration in local systems is the direction for the future of health and care services.

Miriam Deakin    Co-Director of Development and Engagement

“We know that greater collaboration in local systems is the direction for the future of health and care services. Within this local partnership working and a focus on integrating services for patients and services users is key.

“However there is still a great deal of variation between those systems working well in partnership and those who need more support. All local systems will need additional support from the centre if we expect all areas to be covered by an ICS, in a meaningful way, by April 2021.”