Integrated Care Boards: Access to Services

Baroness Barker Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

Getting the right staffing mix is key, and the noble Lord, Lord Kamall, just spoke about what was described as a hierarchy. I am more interested, as I know noble Lords here are, in the team. The noble Baroness raised a very correct point about the role of nursing staff. These are decisions to be made locally. However, the requirement is on ICBs, and they will be measured—as will be contained in the national guidance—on getting the right staffing mix and the right people in place to meet the move to community health services and reduce unnecessary attendance and bed occupancy within hospitals.

[Baroness Barker (LD)]

My Lords, in some places, the relationship between community nurses and acute hospitals is good and patients receive what they think is a care pathway. In other places, the relationship between district nurses and GPs is incredibly problematic, and instead of there being a clear care pathway there is a blockage. What are ICBs going to do to make sure that everybody gets the best distribution of services, not the worst, as happens in some places?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

That is indeed the intention, as the noble Baroness rightly points out. In all this and in the discussion today, which is legitimate, transparency is important. As we committed to in our 10-year health plan, we have already launched a new set of league tables so that every NHS trust is ranked against clear and consistent standards and that we can see what progress is or is not being made. That will raise standards, tackle variations in care and allow a focus, where extra focus needs to be applied, to make changes. Previously, it was far too generic. This will allow us to focus.