Health Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Department will publish additional analysis of the potential operational implications of further specialised commissioning reform, including through an updated Equality Impact Assessment.
Answered by Department of Health and Social Care
As of April 2025, integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning the majority of specialised services. NHS England commissions all ‘highly’ specialised services, high secure mental health services, and a small number of other services on a national basis. The list of services commissioned by ICBs and NHS England is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-england-service-codes/
From April 2027, the legislative reforms proposed are that ICBs should commission the majority of specialised services, with my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, directing ICBs on these functions. It is proposed that the services to be commissioned nationally by my Rt Hon. Friend will be set out in regulations.
The Department published an Equality Impact Assessment of ICBs as strategic commissioners alongside the Health Bill on 14 May 2026. This is available at the following link:
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