Responding to the Health and Social Care Select Committee inquiry report on ICS autonomy and accountability, Miriam Deakin, director of policy at NHS Providers, said:

"We welcome this report and many of the inquiry's key recommendations having contributed written and oral evidence. Trust leaders will agree that central targets for ICSs should be outcomes-based, and that the government and NHS England should be less prescriptive about how targets are met.

"This, and allowing systems greater flexibility to agree local priorities for improving the health of their populations, will enable them to better meet the needs of their communities – including addressing health inequalities. Trusts are key to delivering on this and are fully committed to it.

"As this report suggests, over time, we would welcome more clarity on how ICSs will deliver against their four core aims, as well as on partnership working. This is a top priority for trusts and should be assessed and supported. ICSs and ICBs vary in maturity, population size, levels of deprivation and the make-up of providers locally, so their support needs will vary.

"Trust leaders are clear that provider collaboratives can and must play a key role in delivering and transforming services, improving value and driving up quality of care within the system context. We look forward to the Hewitt Review, which should set out how ICSs, including trusts, can implement many of the themes in this report."