Beginning of a new era as Integrated Care Board takes over from CCGs

Friday marks the beginning of a new era for health and care services across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

At midnight on Thursday, the six NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) that have been NHS commissioners for more than a decade will formally be abolished.

Their place will be taken by the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB).

And the ICB will meet in public for the first time at 2pm on Friday July 1. Papers for the board are already online and there is also a form allowing members of the public join the meeting, to be held on Microsoft Teams if they pre-register.

Peter Axon, Chief Executive of the ICB said: “We have an exciting opportunity to work with partners across the integrated care system in a collaborative, supportive and inclusive way that will help to ensure greater benefits of health and care for everyone across the system.

“The CCGs did a great job in ensuring clinicians were more at the heart of decision making. Now we have a genuine opportunity to learn from the successes of the past whilst deliver our ambitions for greater integration between health and care in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, to reduce inequalities, and to improve health and care outcomes for local people.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure we capitalise on this opportunity, to deliver real change that goes beyond infrastructure, working closely with all NHS organisations, our local authorities and voluntary sector colleagues.”

“Over the next 12 months, we will continue to work to develop our plans further.”

Peter paid tribute to everyone who has worked for the CCGs, many of whom will transfer to the ICB.

He said: “The clinicians and officers of the CCGs have worked tirelessly to help transform services for more than 10 years. I would like to pay tribute to everyone involved, including the GP Chairs and Accountable Officer Marcus Warnes.”